Something just doesn't sit right with me. For over six years, I've known that Hillary Clinton was going to run for President. She never said so publicly until she announced, but somehow I and almost everyone else that follows politics knew this.
She's Bill Clinton's wife. She has been a successful lawyer in Arkansas, a very involved First Lady who was involved in policy issues, and she's been, by all accounts, a successful and effective Senator for the State of New York. We all know these things.
And now, she's running for President.
When I think of the Democratic nominees for President, in terms of who I want to see leading this country, I think about seeing the best among us...the most successful, articulate, inspiring and motivating person who shares views in-line with the Democratic vision. I see this person being someone that we know we as Democrats want to see on the news everyday, fighting for what we believe in.
This brings me to Hillary. I first learned of her in 1991 when her husband Bill was running for President. I remember her as a candidate, running for the open Senate seat in New York back in the year 2000, when I was stationed overseas watching the news on the American Forces Network. I have read her books, 'Living History' and 'It Takes a Village'. I see her in the news every day, speaking to crowds, proposing bills, offering her ideas on how to solve particular problems.
So why am I so lukewarm about the person who has inspired the greatest amount of Democrats of any candidate thus far?
What is it that would make me support or not support this person who has been at the top of every 2008 contender For several years now?
My problem with her is this: I have no idea what it is that makes her stand out above literally dozens of other Democrats. I couldn't begin to tell you why she, and not any number of Democratic Governors and Senators is the best candidate for the job.
I'm not specifically talking about policies, although I could. Are her policies any more specific, any more thorough, any better, or more outside the box even than those that any other top Democrat could come up with?
Does she REALLY have the experience that we need? Does experience even matter to the degree we think it does? What kind of experience is even most appropriate for being President?
What are her terms in office going to be like? Are we going to have national unity? A congress that works in a more bi-partisan, less vicious and more cooperative fashion?
Is Hillary even the best female candidate out there for our side? Would this community not prefer to see someone like the ultra-progressive Barbara Boxer, or the party-building executive Kathleen Sebelius?
I can't really put my foot on it. That's where you guys come in. I want you to try and articulate for me and everyone else out there, why or why not to support Hillary. This isn't meant to be a party-destroying, attack-politics primary thread where we compare one candidate to the other and say that our guy is better than yours, or anything like that. I'm not looking for ammunition to use against Hillary or anyone else in a general election.
Just why, or why not, you would support Hillary in a primary election. Even if all you are doing is saying why you are leaning one way or another...I'd like to know what this community thinks, so that we can all better understand why Democrats in general are behind her, or why this community is generally not lining up that way.
Thanks for reading. I included a poll just for fun, if anything to salvage this mess of a diary.