I'm a woman who's never voted any party line, and I think it's imperative that Hillary Clinton NOT be the first woman president of the US, or I believe she might then be the last. She is not qualified, she is not ethical, and she is certainly not strong enough in the appropriate ways. I voted for Bush, but only because I believed he was the lesser of two bad choices, and deeply regret there wasn't a third choice in '04. I haven't seen a Democratic candidate yet that I'd vote for, and of all the declared candidates I think only John McCain has the personal integrity to stand as leader of this country, and he's demonstrated his ability to cross party lines for the good of the nation - a trait that's been sorely lacking in American politics for far too long. This country is at a critical juncture, and with the state of our economy and the differing threats from China, the war in Iraq, and the Middle East it's vital that the correct person be elected in 2008.

Carleen Stephens, Battle Ground, WA/USA

The problems that Mrs. Clinton revealed were not raised by her pathetic rivals. Her refusal to release the documents from the archives points to the illegal fundraising activities she was the center of during her husband's administration. Her enthusiastic support for total access to government welfare programs and instant amnesty for all illegal aliens is an extremely unpopular position in this country, but one which is shared by all her fellow Democratic primary opponents. Her problems exist independent of the nonentities that oppose her for the Democratic nomination and were raised by the moderator.

Skep41, Woodland Hills, California, USA

Politics is a full body contact sport; if the boys aren't up to the task then they should take up knitting.

It was apparent during Bill's first administration that Hillary was a power to be reckonded with which explains the Conservative focus on her since they blind sided the health care initiative.

They have two tasks before them, one is to find a candidate who is more than a flake and then they must mount a successful campaign. With their record for dumping the nation into a fruitless war, driving up the nation's debt, downsizing the middleclass, and raiding the treasury the task seems monumental and undoubtedly they will use their main arsenal of hate and fear.

It's going to be an ugly year.

Will Miller, Wood Village, Oregon

I looked at Obama with great interest initially but then realized that outside of a bit of bluster, he is devoid of ideas. Saying he'll talk to our enemies is a far cry from policy. And accusing Hillary of whining when he went to S. Carolina and spoke like a black preacher is pandering. Frankly, I'm more concerned that Hillary and other Dems will not read the writing on the wall with regard to illegal aliens and lose the whole thing. Another right wing four years will just about sink us. Take a look at world affairs and see how Rep foreigh policy has worked. Please guys, just take a position and stick with it, don't dissemble and switch from one venue to another. It might look like great strategy but I think we are mad enough to throw everyone out if they don't start doing something and sticking with our values.

Alexandra Castle, Raleigh, North Carolina

Hillary will win. Her support is solid. Her heart is in the right place. The supporters of the candidates who have 1% to 20% of the democratic vote and /or the republican candidates supporters can say all they want. The majority of voters have made up their minds and will vote for Hillary.

ray fernandez, albertville, al

Mike Bloomberg for President.

Carlton Colquitt, NEW YORK, NY

i will vote Obama because i sincerely feel he will bring about change. To recoin an earlier phrase, he is THE Peoples President!

sunder, Ann Arbor, MI

I have no faith that any republican or Clinton would give up what Bush has grabbed for the executive office. All I see is more secrecy and deceit.

I will be voting for the person most likely to be elected AND least likely to be corrupted by politics. There's only one viable rookie.

If Obama doesn't get the party nomination, I will be voting for him by write-in. Clinton won't be getting my vote, and neither will any of the republicans.

We've all seen what the Bush machine has done to America. Do you want to risk seeing what the Clinton machine has in store for us?

Edward, Kalamazoo, MI

This country is going thru its most difficut times as we currently live it. We are exposed to many ego excentric candidates, some glad to drop, and survive by exclaming that they were a candidate - wonderful to be forgotten. Losers, tend to come back and tend to supoort supposed WINNERS, that tend to blame the existing Adminstration of the past,They having nada for the future and not suggesting Their Policy for the next Four Years. I admire Democracts for spelling out thier First 100 days of the new Administration. They Produced? NO: All Bush's fault.

Who wishes to run for Government to be Mashed, Smashed, and Recycled? Fortunately, America has provided a President for its Time.
We were glad that the Clinton's Co-Presidency came into power. For the time the country became aware of how Washington, and its operation operates. We became more listening, judgemental, and wiser to listening to 'Blow Hards', and Sympathetic people to a more Socialistic system.
DG, Worthington, OH

Doug, Worthington, OH.

Wow! It's fascinating to see so many direct such venom towards any person, let alone a presidential candidate whose only transgression is popularity, competence, and a record of accomplishment. Only in America could we see a tide of envy exibited by so many who probably have their own skeletons and very likely little in the way of achievement to boast!
John, Minnesota

John T Helgerson, Victoria, MN

I already have Clinton fatigue! Having a campaign run by pollsters and lots of money does not make you a good president. GW Bush was wrapped up and sold the same way. Haven't we learned yet? Voters! Wake up and smell the coffee!

If the package is too glossy, be wary of the contents. Nobody gets that much money from lobbyists by being honest.

Allison , Monona , Wi

It is telling that the only options for leader of this country are these presented. The citizens of this country have allowed themselves to be relegated to a position of helplessness. Leadership of any organization is based on things including character, integrity, vision. Who truly represents these? The supporters of H.Clinton seem to rally around a (until now un-officially-spoken) female and/or Clinton cause. I have yet to see anything of how she (or others) will practically keep this country from falling off the tracks. There are significant issues toward which good leadership is needed. This is not a static world. China is buying the sources of raw materials. Russia stumbled but has not fallen. The political focus of both parties is to instill false fear into people about short term worries. Citizens are laying down their courage and commitment to moral direction to allievate personal responsibility, while they cheer or cry like ampitheatre fans watching their own house burn.

nathan, durban, south africa

Mrs. Clinton is no different than the Bush Admin... same deceit, same secrecy, same dissconnect from most regular working folks... it's really very much the same.

Her/their, struggle for power is simply a play by an established elitist demagogue... Bush family, Clinton Family, what's the difference?... coke vs. pepsi.

Think outside the box. Vote for the person you feel will bring the greatest change to our corrupt, broken system. Ron Paul might be the way to go... He not only wants to change the system... but take it down.

Antny, Upper Saddle River, NJ

Too bad Obama has surrounded himself with Bush operatives and strategists. Now, we learn he is related to Dick Cheney and a distant relative of George Bush!

Rove is definately involved in Obama's campaign. Obama's attacks against Clinton are all RW talking points driven by the Republican attack machine.

Funny how Obama never has anything negative to say about Republicans. He votes with them in the Senate and votes for them to be confirmend, as he did with Condelezza Rice.

One wonders if he's running for the Dem nomination, why is Colin Powell his Foreign Policy strategist?


Mrs. S.

Jane Smith, Lincoln, Nebraska

After six years of an administration characterized by disciplined secrecy, top-down direction, and back-room policy construction we need something much different from Clinton 2. Mrs. Clinton is Karl Rove in lipstick and heels. We badly need something different.
Apart from her obvious intelligence and extraordinary ambition, she brings little talent to an exceedingly important position. She has only her name and is terribly lacking in political skills. Her self-proclaimed "experience" is based on her years as First Lady, but her husband is continuing to conceal all of the records which might document her contributions.
For her to succeed, she must continue to divide Americans as the Left and the Right have done for years, for their own purposes. Her latest ploy is to play the gender card, trying to portay legitimate campaign challenges as attacks on a woman.
We need a candidate to unite Americans for the very difficult decisions we face. I will support Barack Obama.

Bill Traynor, Whitehall, MI

The "Clinton machine" is unattractive to me.

It seems Obama and Edwards respond on their own wits, while Hillary has these "rapid rebuttal experts" to think of clever comebacks for her.

I am sure Edwards and Obama have advisers too, but they seem more sincere, as though the words were theirs.

I don't like the whole "They're ganging up on a woman" approach.
If she wants special treatment, then she should not be running.

The republicans will tear her apart with this "woman thing."

Edwards is the man.

Oscar, Kingston, USA Pa

The image of Hillary commanding a war room is completely exciting to me. I would love to just sit and listen to what they say. That image of her leaning over a table batting around ideas with advisors truly sums up what a commander-in-cheif should look like.

Ryan, Oak Hill, WV

It is bad for America when the "battle" between the candidates is given equal importance as the problems this country faces. Is it any wonder people are so disgusted by the process and are left with so little faith and pride in their elected government?

Mike, Glen Ellyn, USA/IL

Hold your ground Hillary. Remember it takes a village to raise a child and it takes Hillary to take on a village of attackers. I am for you and the country needs you.

Winona Hearn-Kimball, Silver Spring, MD. USA

If she wasn't named Clinton she'd never be under consideration for president. This is as sad as the election of Gdub. How stupid are we as Americans that we can't come up with viable alternatives to the children and spouses of our former leaders? Have we really become that much of a third-world nation?
First, Clinton needs to stop using the phrase "war room." Want to see how an actual war is operated? Send Chelsea. Secondly the individuals in Hillary's inner circle will prove to be her undoing; most have one obvious talent, they work for Hillary. She needs to get some real people who can voice real dissent in her inner circle not this modern day version of what will prove to be the most insular administration since the Nixon administration. If she loses the lead she'll never regain it. Don't think that estrogen in excess can't be as dangerous as testosterone.

Beltway Greg

Beltway Greg, Washington, DC

Hillary will just be more of the same; she represents no fundamental change from the politics as usual we have been mired in since Bush senior. Hillary's use of her gender in the face of the new attacks from her Democratic rivals, and the pundits praising her for joining the "Boys Club" of Presidential politics is utter nonsense. Hillary began her shrewd manipulation of the system when she carpet bagged her way to New York and ran against Rick Lazio for the Senate. At the time she repeatedly denied any Presidential aspirations. We, the voters of New York, were her unsuspecting stepping stones to her previously undisclosed hidden agenda. Just joining the "Boys Club"? Since 2001 she has taken $3.4 Million in PAC money from contributors at such male dominated institutions as Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, MetLife, Morgan Stanley, JPM and CSFB, just to name a few. Hillary has been a member of the club for a long time and that is why regular folks need now to look to Obama for the future.

Christopher W. Burgis, Sunnyside, Queens, USA / NY

It is fair to question a politician's character and capacity to be President when their views on a number of issues seem to change with the wind. Clinton has initially accepted torture before coming out against it. Clinton was one of the hawks in favor of the Iraq War before she was against it. Clinton was supposed to be the tough model of strength and experience, before she started blaming "all the boys" for ganging up on her. It is fair for the American public to ask what her true face is, when all we see is shifting positions and equivocation.

mike, helena, mt

If not Hilary, then who ?? Obama is kinda cute & that's about it. Edwards is a has-been that never was. All you right wing Bush republicians should face facts and start practicing saying Madam President.

Gator13, Orlando, Florida

Ms. Baxter... I thought for a long time that www.hillaryis44.com was part of the Clinton campaign also...

But after reflection I believe that it is a Republican operation and possibly even headed by Karl Rove.

It is clearly in the Republicans best interest to face Hillary in '08... tearing down her Democratic rivals now helps ensure that she emerges as the Democratic nominee...

Cate, New York, NY

I think Hillary Clinton is by far the most articulate, intelligent and informed candidate on all the issues in any Presidential race of recent memory. As much as I loved, and I do mean loved, Bill Clinton - Hillary is proving to be an even more formidable candidate. My only wish is that I could be working right alongside her and her supporters. I am a "Yellow-dog Democrat" of longstanding from Georgia, presently living in Texas, and am doing all I can to encourage my friends and relatives and anyone else I meet to vote for her. I am a 70 year-old, white woman and one of the earliest members of the League of Women Voters in Georgia - it does my heart good to see Hillary in action and look forward to calling her Madam President!

Phyllis Taunton, Longview, Texas, USA

Hillary has two problems coming out of that stumble. She has her husband come out and hit harder than she did so she looks weak. And she isn't nearly as polished as Bill. She is an attack machine all by herself and it doesn't look nearly as subtle as Bill's presentation during his run.

Her problems are only beginning.

John Wilson, Chicago , Illinois