BILL CLINTON is finding it difficult to transfer voters’ affections for him to
his wife as opponents exploit concerns that two dynasties – the Bush and
Clinton families – could dominate American politics for 28 years.
The former president was in the small town of Glenwood, on the fringes of
western Iowa, campaigning for Hillary last week. “I feel like an old
racehorse who is semi-retired,” he said with self-deprecating charm. “Every
now and then they drag me out of the barn and see if I can make it round the
track one last time.”
The audience loved it but his mission in Iowa was deadly earnest. Hillary
Clinton leads Barack Obama by only three points in an early voting state
which advisers in both camps say will provide the key to victory or sudden
death in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination on January 3.
John Edwards is narrowly behind them in third place. As soon as Hillary left
Iowa, Bill stepped in to fill her place.
“If a woman is intelligent and strong enough to do the job and is credible on
national security,” he said, “having a woman candidate will be an asset, not
a liability.” He reeled off a list of women who had made it in politics,
including Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the new president of Argentina who
has just succeeded her husband. “It’s hard to believe that America is more
sexist than Argentina,” he added.
The United States, however, considers itself to be a more mature democracy.
Grover Norquist, one of America’s most influential Republican activists,
aims to turn the question of dynasty into a campaign issue.
“It will be ridiculous to have Mr President and Madam President in the White
House,” he said. “We’re the United States of America. How can we say to
President Mubarak [of Egypt], ‘You can’t hand off the presidency to your
son, it’s got to be your wife’ or, ‘Hey Syria and North Korea, you’ve got to
knock this stuff off and be like us’.”
Norquist has commissioned lawyers to draw up a constitutional amendment that
would ban family members from succeeding one another to elected and
appointed office. If passed, it would not apply to the Clintons as a Bush
was elected in between them. But Norquist believes that it will alert voters
to the perils of dynasty. “Americans don’t like to go back,” he said.
“Reaganism was forward-looking. Hillary is running a reprise of her husband’s
campaign. The advantage for the Republicans is that Rudy Giuliani and Mitt
Romney are new.”
President George H Bush was sworn into office in January 1989. If Hillary
Clinton wins two elections, the Bushes and the Clintons will have been in
the White House for more than a quarter of a century.
In Glenwood, some voters expressed enthusiasm for a “two-for-one” presidency,
saying they liked the Clintons’ “package”. Others left the hall full of
praise for Bill but with doubts about Hillary.
“I’d vote for Bill again in a flash, but Hillary is divisive . I’m looking for
a president who can unite us,” said Bob Chambers, a local politician who is
backing Obama.
Later that day Obama addressed an equally large crowd nearly 200 miles away in
Knoxville. The parking attendants at his rally were members of Barack-Stars,
17-year-old school pupils who are entitled to vote in the Iowa caucus if
they turn 18 by November 4, 2008, election day.
Obama’s innovative organisation has paid more attention to mobilising the
teenage vote than any other campaign.
Andrew Lopez, 17, said: “I wasn’t even born when the first Bush became
president. Bill Clinton is one of my all-time favourites, but there’s
something about Hillary’s nature . . . As a kid, I don’t feel she gets me.
She seems too uptight.”
Others were concerned that Republicans would be able to revive the dormant
scandals of the Clinton era. In his first stumble of the campaign, Bill
Clinton last week accused his wife’s opponents of “swift-boating” her – an
over-the-top reference to the smearing of John Kerry in 2004, which her
advisers regretted and which may have been provoked by his own vulnerability
to attack.
Last week Kathleen Willey, who claimed in 1998 that Bill Clinton had groped
her, published a book, Target: In the Crosshairs of Bill and Hillary
Clinton, rehashing the old allegations on right-wing television chat shows.
Bonnie Merckley, 21, said: “I thought Bill Clinton was a great president, but
when people remember his presidency, they remember the scandals.” She added
that Obama was better placed to win a national election, a theme the senator
for Illinois took up in his address.
“There are a lot of disaffected Republicans and independents who are willing
to give us a chance, but we have got to have a candidate who can bridge that
divide,” Obama said.
Peggy Noonan, former speech-writer to President Ronald Reagan, noted in The
Wall Street Journal last week that Obama was beginning to win support from
Republicans and independents who “see him as a Democrat who could cure the
Bush-Clin-ton-Bush-Clinton sickness”.
She added: “I say sickness because on some level I think it is driven by a
delusion: ‘We will be safe with these ruling families whom we know so well’.
But we won’t. They have no special magic. Dynasticism brings with it a sense
of deterioration. It is dispiriting.”
Hillary Clinton's official campaign
website
Going on and on
1989-1993 George H Bush First Bush to be elected president
1993-2001 Bill Clinton First Clinton to be president
2001-2009 George W Bush Second Bush to be president
2009-2017 Hillary Clinton? First woman president and first wife to be
president
See http://bushclintonforever.googlepages.com
It is a fact that Hillary has referred to the Clinton years in the White House as giving her experience which fits her for the office of President. That experience should bar her from being President under the 22nd Amendment. You can't have it both ways.
Bill Hamlin, Greece, USA
If Mrs. C. is elected for the usual two terms, do you realize that by the time she is out of office Chelsea will be old enough to run for President? We might as well become a monarchy again.
BAW, Charleston, WV, USA
I can think of 100 reasons not to vote for Senator Clinton and none of them have anything to do with dynasties or the fact she's a woman.
John , Colorado Springs, Colorado/US
Scott,
You are sadly mistaken if you think the public vote actually counts for anything in this country. That's why good'ol George could win the presidency while losing the popular vote... it's called the electoral college. And a nudge from Jeb.
By the way, if people are tricked into voting for a lie, does that still make it the right choice?
Somebody, Michigan, US
Ms Clinton is the same as Mr Bush - but she has breasts. She is power hungry and by no means a uniter. And does she bring any more experience with her than Obama? Actually, the Bill and Hillary Clinton have been controversial since their Arkansas days. What was it, Whitewater? There have been dodgy issues following them all the way and now dodgy campaign contributions? No one is totally clean but she comes into the picture with lots of baggage. The media has attached themselves to her because she is the only female in the mix not because she is the most interesting or most qualified person running. If the media gave as much attention to all of the other candidates perhaps we would have a better idea of what was going and who truly was the most qualified to run the US. The last thing the US needs right now is another polarising leader. The world seems to be in a mess beacuse of many of the actions taken by the US - who wants 4 more years of that?
Bobbie Crum, London, UK
"Norquist has commissioned lawyers to draw up a constitutional amendment that would ban family members from succeeding one another to elected and appointed office."
This is called hypocritical chutzpah. I'm sure he would not have advanced such a proposal just to prevent George W. Bush from taking his Supreme Court appointment as Commander in Chief. It's Ms. Clinton (whose eight years in service in the Senate plus years in public interest law makes her far more professionally qualified than Bush the younger) who is the clear target.
Now if Mr. Norquist were to propose that this amendment would include a retroactivity clause that renders all actions of any family member succeeding another as President to be legally null and void, that might be a different story. Wiping out all the laws and policies of the post-2000 era would do no harm, only good.
Bob, Rochester, NY, USA
As a Brit living in the US for the last 2 years I ahve to say that I am not impressed by Hilary.
On the face of it she does seem to have a plan and valid points on many key matters. What bothers me is the way her campaign seems to be using her husband to enhance her chances, rather than trusting her politics. She is also very worrying when she does appear on TV. Often smiling throughout serious discussions, which seems very starnage to me, as though her image is more important than substance.
I have not seen so much of Obama but he definately seems the better long term choice. He seems more balanced and less afraid to be disliked in his efforts to be clear on his agenda.
Problem is that programs about politics are lost behind programs and comments about appearance. There is more chance of Jay Leno and David Letterman informing people who to vote for as president than Larry King, and that tells the story of US poltics
colin_afc, San Diego, USA
Read the book Compromised by Terry Reed and you won't want a Clinton or Bush anywhere near the reigns of power.
George W, Parkersburg, WV
"All I know if is if Hillary makes it to the White House, we are leaving my country to return to my husband's motherland -- England where I should have stayed in the first place!!"
Yvonne, New York, United States
==
Gee whiz, Yvonne.
My grandparents immigrated from the Isle of Man in 1906 to the oil fields of Texas.
When George Bush was elected in 2000, I said the exact same thing. I wondered if it wasn't time to reverse the process.
You see, we in Texas knew about GWB already.
For those of you who say Hillary means "big" government -- that's technically not correct.
She stands for effective government. She stands for an honorable America, respected by the world.
For those of you who don't want to have a safe America, move, why don't you? We can't afford you any longer.
A safe and prosperous America costs money.
If you don't like taxes, bail out to some foreign country with no tax base. See what you get while hugging all your "money" to your gut.
Judy-in-TX, Beaumont, USA/TX
"Females Are way better at politics than men. We get the job done, whilst men ponder on it. She also understands family values, so she won't be responsible for mass murders in foreighn countries, and she would bring the soldiers home!
Vote for her!" Ant, Iowa, America
Assuming that Ant is a female, and applying Aristotle's view that politics is the art of interacting with others...I would say that she is wrong & that her sex has not helped her. Therefore, Hillary is a colossal failure because she alienates others simply because of her stridency, ideological nature & implacable need for power.
Do I really want to elect a sanctimonious shrew to lecture & condescend to me while attempting a regime of crypto-Socialism? Especially one with no experience at leadership? The question answers itself.
I find neither Hillary nor you persuasive, "Ant."
karl daggerfield, Las Vegas, Nev USA
Again, to respond to the topic. In the States we are not thrown off by the dynasty issue but by Hillary's character, which is abominable. She has ruthlessly pursued power for decades without a shred of logic behind her rise. Name a single thing that Hillary could offer that someone else in the race could not do as well or better? What in the name of Zeus is so important that Hillary offers?
karl daggerfield, Las Vegas, Nev USA
Should people with the same surname be discouraged/discriminated against ipso facto?
Adam, Jersey, uk
Who cares who the US "votes" into power?We all see from the outside that process is as corrupt and secretive as communism and its a lie for Americans to believe they live in a free and democratic society.When was the last time you saw a dead US soldier on TV?Not since Bush BANNED it under his so called "patriot act" which is as close to Hitlers laws as possible. The world governments no longer cares for the US, with China, Japan and India now the major trading partners of the majority of the world the US economy will slide into a depression while the world watches it in glee after 50years or abuse of power. Money talks, and when the next war comes around countries always side with who they have the most trade with.Its a fact. So you might as well vote for mickey mouse.
Luke, perth , australia
I always figured there should be something like term limits on the presidency within families and close, close friends. Too much corruption and wrong direction with our country can happen. One can just carry on where the other left off. Only one of the reasons I don't want Hillary to win.
Donna, Colville, WA USA
There is something decaying and rotten when a country that is known for a vibrant democracy gives in to a rut in dynasty. Especially when it is two of the worst families in poltics. both are terrible for the country and are largely the cause of so many of our ills.
when this country went with Roosevelts it was 30 years apart and from different branches of the family. One republican and one democrat. But, both were excellent for our country and governed as should be.
Not so with either the Bush's or the Clintons. And with continuing with the same two families you have the cronyism and corruption you saw with George Jr.
We must reclaim our ideas and vibrancy and boldness. this can only be done by chosing someone not related to either family.
electing Hillary will only continue with our downward slide. How our founding fathers must be weeping in the heavens.
vwcat, Machesney park, Il,
Clinton is riding on the womens vote tauting the fact that it is a glass ceiling breaking moment. But using first lady as her greatest strength doesn't sound like too much of hard work for typical womens achievement. If it is about making history on terms other than content of character, Obama makes a better choice having reached his level from sheer hard work and personal commitment. This can stand as a challenge to every minority, that America is a land of dreams and possibilities.
American women can do better in getting a woman worth of her character, and hard work to earn the highest office in the land. At the moment, it feels like cheating.
TeamC, Atlanta, GA
For eight years America had the Bill and Hillary show. We don't need the Hillary and Bill show.
Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA
It goes back further actually. George Bush Senior was Regans Vice Pres, So that takes it from 28 years to 32 or 36...I'm not quite sure how many terms Regan Served. Either way, We need to get somebody new in there,,,!
Jed, Post Falls,
It was all summed up for me on a bumper sticker I spotted a few weeks ago: "When Clinton lied, nobody died". Romney was a disaster for Massachusetts, Giuliani is riding the coat-tails of 911. At least with Clinton we get a chance to see for the first time what a woman with down to earth American values can do as opposed to the male dominated pocket-lining cheats we're governed by today.
Brian, Andover, MA, USA
the best thing would be a Hillary/ obama ticket ....
bern, beirut, leb
I am stunned that more people are not talking along the lines of what "James, Vancouver, Canada" said, and that is "Bill and Hillary are married and therefore one legal entity. In essence they are one person not two." And term limits are clear on that.
Alan Kmiecik, Brentwood, TN
When you realize that the clinton/bush 'dynasty' (ridiculous to call trash a dynasty) has been going on for 20+ years, that's about the length of time this country has gone to hell in a handbucket. That's when the media really took over in dictating how our citizens think, vote, etc. Sad situation when the fear of being labeled "politically INcorrect" keeps knowledgeable and informed people from speaking up. The mainstream (abc,nbc,cbs,etc.) media is our worst enemy as they control what we see, know, think and how we vote all because the television has become the God of most households brainwashing the citizens into absorbing all that the "news' media spouts and thus voting likewise...
frostyredbird, Dallas, USA
Don't people realize Hillary is not a Clinton. She is a Rodham who happened to marry a Clinton. Do women still lose their identity when they marry?
Phil Linehan, Mexico City, Mexico
If hillary (or as I like to call her, "billary bush clinton," which is short for "billary bush clinton bush clinton") is voted in as president, then this is no longer America. The very thought of a familial dynasty should be repulsive to every true American. This country was founded because of the inferiorities of the British monarchy. Curse the kennedys for romanticizing the notion of an American Camelot. What they did to our country is unforgivable, and now we will likely have to suffer another four years of a harriman creation (both the bush and clinton political dynasties were created by the evil, un-American harrimans) doing further damage to the American Spirit.
Captain America, New York, NY
I agree with Norquist -- with whom I agree on nothing else. But this is to prevent Jeb from running for president in 2012. I prefer Obama but would vote for Hillary over any GOPer. All we would get from Pres Rudy are neocons who have really screwed this country. It's a shame but the Bush family problems between father and son (most families play these problems out in private) have been played out with the USA being the pawn. W wanted to one up Daddy and the country has suffered.
carol, cleveland, oh
Agree with Dave. It has been said that we already have term limits by the ballot box. Still, incumbents seem to hold the advantage. And no, I am not recommending affirmative action for political office.
Another approach might be to elect half the members of congress and draft the other half like we do for jury duty. With an 11 percent approval rating today, it seems clear that random chance could well produce a more ethical class of representatives.
Nikita, Mesquite, NV, USA
It seems that many people who live in Europe have a misconception about about our country. The US is a republic not a true democracy. We elected delegates who then in turn elect the next President. In any event our whole political process is corrupted by lobbyists who are controlled large multinational corporations. Ironically many of these corporations are based overseas in Europe and Asia. No more Bush/Clinton dynasties would be a good thing for the USA.
Mark Johnson, Tarzana, USA
Mr. Pete this is a dynasty are you kidding? Hillary has said that with her you will get two for one referring to her husband umm Bill. I don't consider myself a sheep, thank you though, but I do consider her running a chance for the clintons to build a "dynasty" in the White house.
Hate to through down a name off the subject, but Ron Paul is the true conservative guys. Lets get back to a balanced budget and secure our country.
Paul for 08!
jonathan, midland, US/ Texas
Can the american people please elect a president that isn't going to start two disasterous wars, kill thousands of soldiers and innocent people, claim to be combatting an 'axis of evil' and have a worse grasp of the english language than the average four year old.
Whether it's Clinton, Obama or anyone else worthy of office. Just elect a leader who is going to better things for the world and ultmately better things for America.
It is sad that such a great country has deteriorated so much in the last eight years.
Pinch Tarrant, london,
Actually it would be 32 years since Bush I was VP for 8 years. I think the Washington train needs derailed.
StevenAK, Pittsburgh, PA,
Don't remember Grover saying a word about dynasties back in '00.
Frank Schmitz, Fall River, USA/Massachusetts
Good grief! When are you liberals going to realize George Bush is not running for president! You don't have any ideas of your own....nothing to put forth for the future.. just Bush bashing. I pity all of you when Bush leaves office. Your lives will be SO empty! What on earth are you going to do with your time and what will you fill up your hateful minds with when he is gone?
Cheryl, Elyria, USA/Ohio
TJ Truckee:
Please don't tell me you voted for Bush after that little speech....
Gareth, birmingham,
"“If a woman is intelligent and strong enough to do the job and is credible on national security,†he said, “having a woman candidate will be an asset, not a liability.†He reeled off a list of women who had made it in politics, including Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the new president of Argentina who has just succeeded her husband. “It’s hard to believe that America is more sexist than Argentina,†he added. "
We are sexist because being first lady is not a legitimate qualification for being President? How did we get here anyway?
Jason, Detroit, USA
Political dynasty and elites gunning for power is nothing new in the US....
Every Republican ticket since 1952 (except Goldwater in '64) has had either a Nixon, Dole, or a Bush.
Here's to Julie Nixon Eisenhower making a bid after Hillary is done is 2012.
Tristan, Dubai, UAE
Jim,
You haven't a clue.
The new governor Mr Christ has done more than Jeb in 8 months than he did in 8 years.
What's someone like you doing living in SF. Move to Idaho.
G. Smith, Miami,
Hillary is not George (who has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of HUMAN deaths) - the addict and murderer, Hillary is not George the first (who had the sense to NOT depose Saddam- you have all forgotten that, yes?) Hillary is a woman who is running for president (no testosterone). Dynasty comes up now in the media? From whom? Don't be STUPID. Do not be sheep. Think.
Pete Fuller, Warrenville, Illinois
I am very much looking forward some day to voting for one of the nation's ablest governors of the past 25 years, Jeb Bush.
Jim, San Francisco, CA
If only we'd thought of this 8 years ago!
Incidently, before he was VP, daddy Bush ran the CIA. You might remember that's when we built the reactor for Iran while at the same time backing Saddam in Iraq to attack them. And lets not forget that Clinton approved the deal to build the reactor for North Korea and Rumsfeld was a director at the company that built it.
Forgive me if I get the impression we're the ones building these monsters.
Ugly American, Las Vegas, USA
Hillary is all about more and bigger government. My philosophy is REAL simple: Get the government off my back and out of my pocket.
Tom, Cincinnati, Ohio
Oh and don't forget that Chelsea will be running for President after Mum Hillary has retired.....
gulfbridge, Dubai,
I dont think dynastic politics are a good idea, nor do I think that Hillary Clinton would be a good president. This is not because she is a woman. It is because she his Hillary Clinton, who supports taking money from the people for the government.
I was talking with a person recently, who said that he and his family had met with Hillary Clinton. According to him, when talking with Hillary one on one, you find out that there is no substance inside. She'll say anything to get a vote, but she does not have true convictions.
Alex Kowaleski, Winter Springs, FL
Here's a question. Bill and Hillary are married and therefore one legal entity. In essence they are one person not two. That's why a spouse can not sue another spouse (other than for divorce) because you can not sue yourself. Taken one step further the Clintons already have served 2 terms and as they are still married and still one legal individual, Hillary, just as Bill would constitutionally not be allowed to run again. That is unless she divorces him.
James, Vancouver, Canada
Technically since George H.W. Bush was VP, it would mean that a Bush or Clinton would be connected to the WH for more than 35 years if Hillary were to win two terms.
Michael, Kansas City, MO
This forgets the fact that the elder Bush was VICE-President under President Reagan from 1981 - 1989. So, it would be 36 years of Bush-Clinton if Shrillary were, by some evil alignment of the stars and ignorance of voters, were to achieve two terms as POTUS. Oh, let's not forget the progeny of both families, and both are politically active.
Exeter, St Louis, USA
Here is my say....people should not be allowed to comment on politics unless they know what they are talking about........period.
Ant, HRC knows nothing of politics, she is a phony....to the nth degree...oh ya you do not know anything about politics either.
Cindy, Aguanga, CA, USA
ooh.... and then Jeb can run and we can add 8 more years.... by then, Chelsea will be old enough to run... and the Bush twins.... they could keep this going forever....
Linda, DuBois, PA
For all those folks who don't want to see a Bush/Clinton dynasty I have one word---Rudy.
Maureen Girard, Clearwater,
The key difference of this and a dynasty is that the people are electing our officials to office. If Bush-Clinton-Bushx2-Clintonx2 means 28 years of them, it's only because we've voted for them. If enough people (enough to win an election) want them to continue running, all the power to them. If the people feel that 28 years is too long, or get tired of someone eventually, they can always be replaced peacefully within four years. That's the difference of the US and Iran or N. Korea, our dynasties have a build-in self-checking mechanism.
Scott, St. Louis, MO
Dynasty aside. Hillary is dangerous for America simply because she is a big government Democrat. She recently said that she had a "million" ideas, but we couldn't "afford" them. To her, bigger government is better, but in reality bigger government means less freedoms for people.
Tom , Detroit, MI.
Where were you, norquist, when the current disaster succeeded his father? George W. Bush alone is reason enough to prohibit succession by family members all the way out to distant cousins. If Hillary Clinton were half the curse George W. Bush has been and she's elected, it's time to buy lots of dried food, ammunition, firearms and dig a deep, deep hole.
Bill Adkins, Williamstown, KY
All I know if is if Hillary makes it to the White House we are leaving my country to return to my husband's motherland - England where I should have stayed in the first place!!
Yvonne, New York, United States
America is not about Royal Families. No more relatives handing off power to each other. This is why South America has been a disaster for hundred of years. Enough Already!
jack, Boston,
Comparing these "American Dynatsies" to the leadership in Egypt, Syria, and North Korea reveals more about what people like Grover Norquist think about the state of our republic than it does about the handing off of power. Comparisons of our system of government to those regimes coming from a Republican is certainly food for thought.
Brad, Columbus, Ohio
Dave in Phoenix:
I totally agree that we need TERM LIMITS IN CONGRESS. Some of those people have never held a real job - they have spent their entire "career" in the Senate or House. And all they do once they get elected is work to get elected again, using PORK to buy votes.
And yes, we need to end the Bush and Clinton dynasties (besides, Hillary is too weak - "they are picking on me" - to stand up to the thugs in this world).
Mac, Severn, USA/Maryland
There already is a section in the US Constitution that deals with dynastic succession. The requirement that a US President must be 35 years old to hold the office addresses this problem. The age requirement was put in the Constitution to prevent the sons of popular US Presidents from riding the coat tails of their fathers into the nation's highest office. The theory was that by requiring a US President to be 35 years old, that a candidate would have amassed his own unique set of accomplishments separate from his father by age 35. The 35 year old requirement had nothing to do with the desire for a certain level of maturity in office that an older candidate would supposedly possess.
D. Reid, Richmond, Virginia, USA
So, Ant, you want to elect a woman president to prove we're not a sexist country? Wow...that makes me feel comfortable. How about electing a PERSON who is QUALIFIED to be president of the US? Someone who has real experience in foreign policy, someone who has actually MANAGED something besides her appointment book, and someone who has actually DONE something besides ride her husband's coattails? And as far as someone who "understands" family values...are you joking? WHAT family values? Hanging onto her husband for pure political reasons after he got busted with a 20-something intern in the White House on tax payer dime?
TJ, Truckee, CA USA
America's first dynasty began with the Kennedy family...and over 50 years later we are still suffering from one Kennedy in the U.S. Senate and younger Kennedy's serving in other political positions. We can thank Mary Jo Kopechne for giving her life to save this nation from the likes of Teddy Kennedy as President. The citizens of Massachusetts must be crazy to keep voting him back into office. As for Hillary, her problem is not that she's a woman. A woman the likes of Margaret Thatcher or Golda Meir would be deserving of our votes. Hillary, however, is no Thatcher or Meir...she's a power-hungry woman who decades ago made the decision to hitch her wagon to a philandering man with the ability to lie to everyone and STILL get their votes. Her desire to become president has nothing to do with wanting to help our country, but to gain the power she believes she so richly deserves.
Janet Fuls, Cottonwood, CA USA
As an American I can clearly state that I am sick and tired of the Bush/Clinton monarchy that has been running our country. This has been going for TWENTY years (add 4 for Bush 1 as VP) and it is time America moved on.
And for those in the "Gotta-get-a-woman-in-the-White-House-no-matter-what" camp....Go find another "strong smart" candidate.
Dave, NYC,
Not only is this very sexist, but it's wrong to think Hilary won't do a better job. This woman knows politics, but have also been in the front lines witnessing all that went wrong. Her mission statement is to do it RIGHT, and to do Right by her fellow americans. I Believe she will be a a Great President, and the First Female to do it in a Sexists Country like America. Females Are way better at politics than men. We get the job done, whilst men ponder on it. She also understands family values, so she won't be responsible for mass murders in foreighn countries, and she would bring the soldiers home!
Vote for her!
Ant, Iowa, America
Didn't they fight a war in 1776 to get rid of the royal family?
neil, waterford, ireland
Even though I like Hillary's politics and she'd obviously be a more competent President than Dubya, there's NO way I could vote for her. I just don't think America can go through another 4 (or 8) years of TOTAL divisiveness like we've been through in the last few. Dubya is off-the-charts divisive, and Bill Clinton was pretty much hated or at least severely disliked by 40-50% of the population. We really need 4 years of someone who could just be a "normal" President, who's respected by . Obama or McCain might be the only two that fit that bill. All I know is I'm already feeling some good ol' fashioned "Clinton Fatigue", and it's still a YEAR 'til the election!
Scott Wylie, Louisville, Kentucky
No more dynasties.. please dont ruin everthing.. please allow change..
modern civilization, NY,
It should be rather obvious to anyone with half a brain that the people who are put into power are put there with the aid of big corporate money. Big corporate money wants and they get. Those who play along get the puppet position. People are starting to wake up to this manipulation. There is not a single candidateof note running for president that does not have the puppet strings firmly attached except for one. The only candidate worth considering is Ron Paul. If he can get past the electronic voting machines and manage to secure the presidency he then will have to deal with the puppet senate and congress. People should look back into history to see how rare freedom really is.
George Conners, Vancouver,
Permanency in Washington was not the original plan for representative government, but rather citizen statesmen who would come, and then go - back to their farms, or their business, or their career position. The permanent potted plants we have had for so long have become the demise of our republic with their slickness, growing power, and insatiable ambition. The people become lost to their own government.
Rita, Oklahoma City,
It is good to know US realise that Dynasties fail to symbolise the greatest democracy in the world and democracy loving Americans, especially the youth want someone from the outer.
Jose Cota, Victoria,
Isn't this what America fought against and defeated with the British Empire during the American Revolution? Kings' and Queens' anyone? This is sort of like the ultra wealthy aristocratic elites' of America buying up the Presidency if you ask me.In America anyone should be allowed to run for public office yet this really is no longer true because it requires such massive amounts of cash to run and win.Only the well connected and wealthy have any chance of holding powerful positions in politics.America needs people in office who can relate to the normal everyday American who is just trying to stay afloat in an ever increasingly more costly economy.Is it a Republican or Democrat problem? No! It's an American problem thanks to McCain-Feingold campaign rigging! America needs a strong national oriented leader who has the bravado to tackle all of the major issues that are currently being overlooked and neglected here at home.Who do we have like this in either party?
Harlan , Valentine, Virginia
It's not the Presidency in which dynasty should be of concern, it's congress.
Term limits should be imposed, and Senators and Representatives should be barred from more than two terms in either house in perpetuity.
More than ten years in Congress is reason enough to indict someone just for cause. Congress is not supposed to be an occupation. But just like roaches, we'll always have politicians, although I tend to have more respect for roaches.
Dave, Phoenix, AZ, USA