I don't care WHO the person is -- there's no such thing as a candidate for President that comes with a guarantee of "no surprises" or who can reliably say they're "vetted." I'll buy that a second-term candidate might be a BIT more of a known entity, but this is not the case with anyone we're looking at this time around.

Many of Hillary Clinton's qualities are known (for good or bad) and many aren't. The best we can do is to weigh what candidates have done in other arenas or roles, what they say their views and values are, and watch how they handle themselves -- then judge accordingly based on what we feel is in our best interest and the best interest of the country.

I'm not saying she's lying -- only that I don't believe it's logically possible to know absolutely ahead of time how someone who's never been President will perform in that role. There are ALWAYS surprises, and would be with any candidate.

"Pride Commeth Before the Fall"

Yes, she has been vetted. We know Hillary/Bill like a book. One that we have high on the shelf out of reach and we don't want to read again, except maybe if Ricard Wagner comes back to life and turns it into one of those 3 hour sagas that wears you out listening to it.

Fear and Smear on the campaign trail:

Attacking character is the fun part of the campaign
Kindergarten essay
Drug pusher
Naive
Caucus manipulator
Muslim intent of destroying the US

The politics of yesterday, all coming from Hillary Clinton.

Even after she supposedly apologized to Obama "on the Tarmac" according to the AP, she still if following this line of nonsense. Does she think she wont be attacked for exactly what she is doing now: lying.

Hillary knows WAY MORE about Obama than has been put out there. He is lucky if the cocaine issue is the worst question raised. Speaking of Moms, where is Baracks?

Both his parents were institutionalized at different times, and his father was raving mad at the end.

"No surprises" means no pleasant surprises either. Clinton is who she is-- a sharp poltical mover with a brittleness about her that may be caused by her divisiveness and may be a cause of it. A politician who voted on the basis of incorrect intelligence with Bush on Iraq and now Iran, and who has the nerve to question the judgement of others. When choosing draft prospects, coaches in the NFL talk about the "floor--" the least a person might do, and the "ceiling--" their full potential. Clinton's ceiling is clearly lower than Obama's, and her floor probably is as well, given the unified oppositon and fractured support she would face. Her destiny is to be the next Ted Kennedy, not the next Eva Peron.

"CLINTON SPEAKS"

Martin Luther King had a dream, and SO DO I.

Now if only women in America stood for themselves as they stand for something. Now if only women in the world understand their pain at the pump, their pain at the EMERGENCY ROOM, their pain at the GROCERY STORES IN AMERICA. Hopefully women will allow their daughters a chance in THE NEW WORLD OF HOMELAND SECURITY, IMMIGRATION, MARSHALL LAW MERIT IMMIGRATION TOWARDS ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING HISPANIC IN AMERICA.
Hopefully Women in America will understand the chance under GOD that we have.

If the bible was written in a PARAPHRASE, then America didn't deserve a George Bush or a Dick Cheney. America didn't deserve to have the SUPREME COURT appoint our President.

If only America will allow it's daughters and mothers and sisters to vote CLINTON IN 08.

IF WE ARE TO HAVE AN AMERICA THEN WE NEED THE AVERAGE WOMAN TO GET ENGAGED IN HER VOTE! AND HER VOTE ALONE.

LONG LIVE NANCY PELOSI!

What it comes down to is the "hearing" test: Who can listen to one of Hillary's monologs for more than 15 seconds without reaching for the mute button? The thought of four years of someone scratching finger nails on a chalk board is too much to contemplate. Obama, on the other hand, is a delight to listen to. Voice quality is not the only criterion for being president, but in this electronic age, it is of singular importance.

She has a point, we can't have any surprises coming up in the general election. We all know Republicans will lie about the nominee (Kerry shot himself in Vietnam, Gore said he invented the internet) and their media will report the lies as fact, but at least they are lies. We need to thoroughly review every candidate's past to ensure Republicans can only lie about them. Of course, this isn't an issue for the GOP because the Democratic Party doesn't have a hate machine, doesn't own most of the AM radio stations, and doesn't have their own cable news channel to spread lies.

"HARRIET" OH SWEET HARRIET.

MY VOICE IS DEEP, LIKE BARRY WHITE. MY LINES ARE DEEP LIKE ROGER MORRIS, BUT I'M NOT A WOMAN. I HAVEN'T BEEN TORTURED AND RENDERED FROM MY OWN HUMANITY ALL MY LIFE. I HAVEN'T BEEN DENIED THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE! I HAVEN'T BEEN SECLUDED FROM THE REST OF SOCIETY AS THOUGH IT IS MY FAULT. I HAVEN'T BEEN BEATEN AND PILLAGED BECAUSE OF MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION. I HAVEN'T BEEN DENIED HEALTHCARE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. I WAS ABLE TO VOTE, I WAS WAS ABLE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A HUMAN BEING BECAUSE I AM MAN.

YOU ON THE OTHERHAND, HAVE BEEN DRUG THROUGH THE MUD, YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DRUG THROUGH AMERICA BY MAN.

OBAMA IS NO DIFFRENT, AND IT WILL BE OKAY IF A WOMAN IS PRESIDENT.

I NEED HEALTHCARE, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM, MY SISTERS, MY FAMILY. I NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE CIVILITY IN AMERICA AND NOT WOMEN TO THE LEFT AND MEN TO THE RIGHT.

I NEED HARRIET TO VOTE HILLARY - BARRY WHITE IS GONE, BUT HIS MUSIC STILL LIVES ON, IF THAT IS WHAT SWAYS YOUR DAY! BUT I NEED YOUR VOTE, MY DAUGHTER NEEDS YOUR VOTE, HER DAUGHTER DEMANDS YOUR VOTE AS SHE IS ONLY 2!

There is no wrath like a woman's scorn. Here we go again with Clinton 'setting the stage'. If she tells the American public there are no surprised with her we all will think that when she knows differently. There are many surprised still with Clinton, it's just that they are so solidly hidden and secret, it may be hard to get to them. I don't think there are any 'surprises' with Obama either but by her 'planting' that word, she wants the American people to think there is. Wow, we are actually seeing that 'Clinton Machine" in full gear.

Hillary seems to be trying to continue the attacks started a couple days before, where they paint a picture of Obama as a black cocaine dealer/user, who will come under scrutiny in a general election.

Hillary is actually the LEAST electable democrat, with Edwards polling better against Republicans.

Her desperate campaign is now resorting to innuendos and insinuations that the other candidates have some scary skeletons in their closets. This is becoming pathetic.

Clinton's big trouble is that she's just not "playing the game", she's been captured by it.

Forget the fact she's an unethical back stabbing excuse for a human being.

>

His mother died young from ovarian cancer. His father died young in a traffic accident.

Feel better now?

Hillary is not much different than her Repubican counter-parts she is all double talk and full of empty promises. Everytime she opens her mouth I feel a lie coming on...next she'll start talking about weapons of mass destruction and attachking Iran....OOOPPSS she already mentioned that.

People are so freaked out at the idea of having a woman for President. What kind of a world are we living in? It used to be that the United States was a country to be envied. We've relegated ourselves to a bunch of backward hicks.

Barack's mother passed away. You animal, have sympathy for deceased.

Hillary has only one goal in life - to be worshipped, feared, and adored as god on Earth. Anything, or any one, who is perceived as impeding her goal will be destroyed. She assumed she had '08 wrapped up, but when Barack started to show a challenge, she broke open her "bag o' dirty tricks". If Barack continues to do well, we'll see much, much worse.

When "The country is crying and the world in peril," as Boswell commented, how about we forget about nominating someone that can win, but instead someone that can lead? At this point I haven't made up my mind who to vote for, but I can say that I am tired of hearing all the candidates talking about how they can win, but no one has shown any leadership. They all talk about how they have led and will lead, but no one has put words into action.

For me the election comes down to the following choices. Either vote for (1) the best candidate across all parties if Hillary is not the Democratic candidate or (2) vote for whatever Republican is running against Hillary. She was "co-president" for 8 years. According to term limits her time is over. Enough family presidencies!! Lets bring in some new blood!!!

If our next president can "surprise me" by not giving us one foreign policy blunder after another, I'll take it. Didn't Bill and the gang bungle us into Somalia and fail to neutralize Bin Laden when they had the chance? Ummm, yeah--I don't think Hillary would surprise me. I think we know that we'd get more of the same, regardless of party affiliation. Time to start fresh. Question is: how long after she is denied the nomination will Hillary abandon New York State? Can you say 'grasping carpetbagger with no soul or integrity'? I just did!

Now the Republicans are licking their lips and just have to mention one word if she gets the nomination....whitewater.

Kevin

"Didn't Bill and the gang bungle us into Somalia "

No Father, that was George H. W. Bush who sent US troops into Somalia between the election and Clinton's Inauguration.

Unfortunately, I WISH there were surprises with Hillary, as it might give us a reason to vote for her. She is still one of the most unlikable candidates out there and way to polarizing to most of us. To be honest, people do not like her!

Was hoping the first woman candidate would be someone I could have admired. liked, and supported. Hillary is a smarmy, prissy wannabe that only very few can stomach.

I will vote for Obama, or stay at home...

FIRST! I AM BLACK AND CLINTON HAS SEALED MY VOTE! IM ASHAMED OF HOW
OPRAH SINGLE HANDIDLY HAS TUNRED THIS ELECTION INTO A RACE ISSUE AND
COMPLETELY DIVIDED THIS COUNTRY! GET READY OPRAH, PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF IT AND WILL FIGHT BACK!
Hillary is one of the most outstanding women of the 21 century. Because of tat, she is continually dragged through the mud, bashed, ridiculed and
called numerous names; by ALL media outlets (men controlled no doubt)
Osama's camp started circulating bogus memos and lies about her early in the
campaign and now about her mother and daughter. DISGUSTING! What a nasty
sick group at oprhabama camp! That's what you're voting for when you support the likes of obama. NO OTHER WOMAN IN POLITICS HAS EVER HAD TO
WITHSTAND, SUCH PERSONAL ATTACKS TRYING TO HELP THE SAD DISFUCTIONAL STATE THIS COUNTRY IS IN! It makes me ASHAMED OF HOW WE DO THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY! She continues to with stand numerous personal attacks from men who are imitated like obama and Edwards. The media has not reported on her campaign or outstanding public service record and that she outshines all other on the stage. She continues to be attacked by any supporter that has a
negative opinion about oprahbama. THIS IS A DISGRACE TO OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM,
that the media types like oprah are selling the Dream yes, oprah has put a
dollar amount on Dr. Kings dream. NO ONE APPEARS TO BE INTERESTED IN WHATS
BEST FOR THE US AND THE FUTURE SAFELTY AND HEALTH CARE OF OUR CHILDREN like
Hillary Clinton does. Obama would rather run around and play the race game. EXACTLY like when OJ Simpson was losing his trial, the race card ALWAYS gets thrown in as oprah as done when obama was down in the polls. People use the race card because they don't want to be held accountable for their failures. Oprah Winphrey and Obama are disgusting and so is anyone who would
support the selling of America. If obamawinphrey would get the nomination WE ALL KNOW WELL HE CANT WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, THIS COUNTRY WILL
FALTER UNDER THAT NEW REPUBLICAN PRESIDENCY… OBAMA IS HUGH MISTAKE FOR THIS COUNTRY, HE CANNOT BRING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER, HE AND OPRAH HAVE DRAWN A LINE RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND WE ARE EVEN MOVE DIVIDED AS A COUNTRY AFTER LAST WEEKENDS DOG AND PONY SHOW MORE THEN EVER BEFORE. Yes Oprah has power look what she did with it! She put women, black or white back 50 years! She makes it difficult for another educated BLACK WOMAN TO SUCCEED NOW! I would never watch, read or use a product oprah endorses. THE WORLD HAS LOST THEIR LOVE AFAIR WITH OPRAH… DO NOT VOTE FOR BAMAWINPHREY, YOU WILL BE SELLING YOUR CHILDS FUTURE!BTW OPRAH. DR KINGS DREAM WAS FOR EVEY AMERICAN, NOT JUST BLACKMEN.

COME LADIES THIS IS OUR TIME!
CLINTON 2008

Speaking of Moms, where is Baracks? Both his parents were institutionalized at different times, and his father was raving mad at the end.

Posted by: robert ethan | December 14, 2007 2:49 PM

GW's mom and dad are in great shape and nicely retired. And yet look at the decisions he's made.

So what is your point, RE?

Ah yes, the "vast right wing conspiracy..." that turned out to be named Monica. We do not need someone always looking for someone else to blame, to divide us even more, a political retread, and a person with the warmth of a Canadian cold front. We need a real leader and uniter- a fresh new voice. Although I disagree with some of his positions, that person is Barrack Obama.

"People are so freaked out at the idea of having a woman for President. What kind of a world are we living in? It used to be that the United States was a country to be envied. We've relegated ourselves to a bunch of backward hicks.

Posted by: Looken"

to Looken: I'd consider voting any woman other than Hillary. Her blind ambition ego is more dangerous than George W's ignorance! She respects no one else's opinion.

I'm gonna play devil's advocate here.

The staffer made the comments about Republicans potentially smearing Obama over prior drug use if he is nominated.

It may have been put out to create doubts in Democratic primary voters about Obama's electability, which is a dirty trick if so.

But it's not as if what the former staffer said has no merit.

If Obama gets the nod, the Republican "swift boater" crowd will be running attack ads next autumn that say he sold heroin on the streets after he was elected senator.

> I don't believe it's logically possible to know absolutely ahead of time how someone who's never been President will perform in that role.

Whoever said this probably forgot George W Bush. Frankly, I was able to predict with amazing accuracy about his presidency in 2000 in Germany.

Clinton has been in the public eye for 16 years. If anyone still thinks that there are any more surprises about her, that one has been asleep through these years.

You go, Clinton!

All of you yahoo's have all the answers to all of society's problems but none of you have the guts to run for office to correct those issues. Win or lose at least she did.

For Luke, President Bush (the father) sent troops to Somalia to guard food shipments. It was Clinton who expanded their role to seek out and arrest the main war lord and at the same time reduced the number of U.S. troops. It was Clinton and Defense Sec. Aspin who put under-equipped and outnumbered U.S. troopers into conflict and caused the loss of life. (Source: PBS). Read or watch "Blackhawk Down" and you will get the whole story.

Her candidacy is headed downhill...every poll shows it, and it's obvious simply by looking at her recent appearance.

This is the time for her to be peaking, not fading.

Jump off the bandwagon before the wheels fly off!

I agree with her. Nothing she does would surprise me.

Hil says she so experienced people won't say: Why my goodness what does that mean.
Hil it all depends on what is is as the Slickmeister used to say. Jerry White, Sprinfield, IL P.S Hil been involved intensely for 16 years she was only first lady for 8 years she must be talking about working Whitewater at the Rose Law Firm. Funny the billing records showed up a week after the statute of limitations expired. Will wonder ever cease Hil? Jerry White, Springfield, IL

All of you yahoo's have all the answers to all of society's problems but none of you have the guts to run for office to correct those issues. Win or lose at least she did.

Posted by: Tim | December 14, 2007 9:42 PM

It's easy to "have the guts to run for office" when you have that much name recognition - and delusions of grandeur.