The 2016 presidential field is taking shape almost two years before the election. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton appears to have a clear path. And her campaign is behaving far more like she’s already the Democratic nominee than someone pursuing the nomination.
Clinton might get through the nomination without a serious challenger but it may be to her detriment. Everybody knows who she is and what she has done but she hasn’t really made a compelling case for her candidacy. Instead of answering the question of why America needs her as the next president, her campaign announced she would raise an unprecedented amount of money. That’s not much of a reason to run. Maybe a primary would help her find one.
Clinton also announced that she might not even debate in the primaries. With Elizabeth Warren likely to take a pass, her only probable opponents right now are former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and former Virginia Senator Jim Webb, both real long shots. Neither has much of a national profile or much money. Instead of engaging them, Clinton’s team is already floating potential VP picks.
The Clinton campaign will be one of the most experienced in history. It will be the fourth presidential campaign for the Clintons and they are already lining up top talent to run the race. Most of the inner circle are veterans of successful national campaigns.
However, nobody seems to be managing expectations. They appear to be moving forward with the inevitability argument that didn’t work out so well in 2008. Of course they are in a better place than they were at this point in the 2008 campaign. Still, a lot can change over the next year or so.
Instead of running like she’s already the nominee, she should be running like she needs to earn the support of Democrats. Because she does. Taking her primary opponents seriously would be a start. She needs to tell us why she wants to be president besides saying she’s the most experienced candidate with the most money. Otherwise, she could run into problems on the way to her coronation.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Ah, and one more setback for Scott Walker. He’s on quite a roll lately, albeit downhill. It’s a trend that is not quite what one has in mind when needing to burnish one’s presidential resume……
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/court-rules-against-measure-letting-scott-walker-halt-school-administrative-rules-b99448077z1-292641401.html
To any boosters of “Scott Walker for President” on this thread: Not a good week for the Wisconsin governor. See my post above ^^^^ and also this new mess he’s gotten himself into. He may get around it by throwing another staffer under the bus, or via more lies. If he runs for the Presidential nomination, the national media will eat his lunch:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/documents-show-walker-administration-seeking-removal-of-uws-wisconsin-idea-b99439710z1-290927651.html
Here ya go, Will. That was one embarrassing performance by Walker. He is NOT of presidential caliber. And if he’s can so easily be taken to task by the very centrist token lib at Forbes, imagine what the MSM will do with him…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2015/02/02/scott-walker-presidential-bid-self-destructs-on-abcs-this-week/
Presuming a “Republican-majority Congress” after the 2016 elections isn’t any sure bet at this point. I’ll opine that the Senate goes back to Dem majority in 2016, and the House R-D ratio begins moving back in a Dem direction. And why can’t the GOP “give up some ground” on some issues, like the minimum wage or immigration? And didn’t we hear a lot about Obama’s one-term presidency, beginning the day after election day 2008 and from McConnell’s podium in 2012?
Hillary will not win if she does not ask for the opportunity to serve with tangible policy and program recommendations that she can implement with a Republican-majority Congress. Legislative progress is the most important voter concern – even if it means that Dems must give up some ground to win the larger ‘hearts and minds’ battle. Hillary is an antagonist, and although she may run well that way the title of “first female” President may be the only accomplishment of a one-term presidency.
I absolutely agree with this: ‘Instead of running like she’s already the nominee, she should be running like she needs to earn the support of Democrats. Because she does.’ I think that people underestimate Clinton fatigue.
I can’t resist a comment–This is a pissing contest between opposing of cool-aid drinkers.
Am I the only person who holds both parties in equal contempt, and understands that no one in Washington or Raleigh stays honest past his first term in office?
You have to be delirious to support either Hillary or Jeb (or Biden or Rubio . . .)
What we need is another Bill–He spent so much time screwing bimbos that he couldn’t
have given all his attention to screwing us.
Yeah, ya know, it’s always helpful and contributory to hear from those who hate both parties, and say, in contempt and resignation, that all political stripes and government programs suck. It lends sooo much to the discourse. Thanks.
So what does it add to the discourse to tout the virtues of incompetents who show their contempt for us by lying to us and believe they are part of an aristocracy which has a God given right to govern?
Is it too much to ask for some semblance of integrity in a potential president:?
There are folks out there fit to govern. Jim Webb comes to mind.
As long as folks like you settle for professional politicians, there is no hope for improvement.
I’m used to a fair amount of hyperbole from the comments section here but wow just wow.
Also at what point did we go from disbelieving everything on the internet, to accepting any whackjob conspiracy theory anyone posts as gospel? No referring to Thomas’ article of course but a few of the suppositions that popped up here in the comments.
cosmicjanitor: I don’t see how your stating “…
“the commenters above – both left and right, are an embarrassment to any reasonable discussion .and 2016 will no doubt finish the fascist transition of locking-down all three branches of our corrupted federal government under corporate/republican control – the point of redemption has passed.”
…is contributing to “reasonable discussion” either. Sorry, but it reads more like derision, followed by concession and resignation.
Look, it does seem that these blog comment threads have taken a turn toward the louder and more contentious in the last several weeks. It’s hard to read more and more strident, baseless, boisterous, crude and even vulgar stuff without firing back. But, unfortunately, that’s the tenor that some like to bring to political discourse nowadays.
Fact is, it’s nearly impossible to offer “reasonable” comments without getting bashed—politically or personally. But, IMO, if you don’t get involved in challenging and questioning stuff, you’ll just be sitting back and allowing the uncontested blaring of a lot of drivel.
After reading the sampling of comments here from both sides of the political divide, I can only say that the US., inc., is in ‘deep cotton’; the commenters above – both left and right, are an embarrassment to any reasonable discussion and 2016 will no doubt finish the fascist transition of locking-down all three branches of our corrupted federal government under corporate/republican control – the point of redemption has passed.
NO Killary 2016! the coolest new bumpersticker!
the GREAT Trey Gowdy R-SC is about to revive the Benghazi investigation and Hitlary will have a prison term to serve first…the bitch is EVIL.
Thank goodness you don’t have a full volley of comments. I might hurt myself laughing.
As for Walker, no “hate” for him at all. Just healthy disrespect. He’s just another GOP supply-sider whose state, like NC, would be doing a whole lot better if not stalled by trickledown thinking, cuts to the public sector, and failing to expand Medicaid.
Yeah, I remember “jobs.” Walker bragged about a gain of 8,400 in the month before the election, when the actual gain in total jobs was only 300. He’s said his state is now ranked in the “top four” in the Midwest for job creation, but the state’s job gains still lag behind the national average. He said when first elected that he would create 250,000 jobs during his four-year term, and he repeated that pledge when he was inaugurated. As of this November, the state had added less than half that many — 118,700. Wisconsin is still below the national average in job gains.
http://www.wisconsinbudgetproject.org/gdp-numbers-confirm-wisconsins-lagging-growth
If Walker seems to you to be the best out there for the GOP nod in 2016, bring him on. If he’s not in jail ……
Gosh, the reliably BLUE State of Wisconsin respectfully disagrees apparently. Walker has been elected twice and survived a recall election funded by every leftwing loon, union thug, commie,Trumka-wannabe pos, coupled with a 24/7 MSNBC smear campaign.
Kinda goes against your narrative wouldn’t you say?
And I presented what “goes against your narrative” of Walker being a job creator. He ain’t.
Oh, and he’s also a liar (he claims, but doesn’t have, a college degree), and a cheat (he was kicked out of Marquette University for violating student government campaign rules). Real presidential timber, there.
He also beat a recall effort that the Democratic party and ancillary groups put a lot of people and talent into winning, in a traditionally blue state, and he won reelection.
Democrats underestimate them at their own peril.
Just saying that the Wisconsin media is not the national media, who will tear Walker up on a host of skeletons and shortcomings. And that recall was before his predictions on job growth were shown as pipedreams….
2016 is the year of Hillary Clinton, it is not a 3rd term of Obama, nor is it pie in the sky time for wannabes.
The campaign has not begun, and has not taken shape except for a few executive managers.
The field groups created by the Super PAC’s are definitely at work, and I would say that the machine is definitely benefits the overall goals of 2016.
Of course, that in itself will bring about some discontent.
Not to put too fine a point on it but since when are “whore” and “prostitute” the same thing?
As to the rest of your comment, I have no comment apart from your dig at Walker. Say what you will but he has done pretty darn good job (remember jobs(?) that’s what we used to get in America). He broke the unions in a BIG union State (which had to be done), and he’s governed effectively taking Wisconsin from the fiscal precipice to a good place in a challenging economy (courtesy of the morons in DC).
But I understand, that’s why you hate him!
“Benghazi!” Giggle.. (How many GOP House Committee reports saying no improprieties by Obama or Hillary on Benghazi does it take before the brainwashed listen up?)
“Bill’s whores.” Ha….. (But nice try. Any proof of actual prostitute solicitation you might share? Didn’t think so.)
“SECOND black President.” Haha…. (that moniker would only help the campaign in raising the black vote it gets from 95% to 99%)
“…leftist soap opera…” LOL. (but I am surprised it wasn’t called a “Bolshevik soap opera”)
“..young, smart ACCOMPLISHED guy.” LOLOL! (The problem is that the GOP doesn’t have any of these type of guys. Granted, it does have a public bridge-closer; a GOP senator who deliberately undermines House GOP solidarity and who led on shutting the government down, costing billions to the economy; a libertarian who plagiarizes; governors (2) under criminal investigation (see NJ and below); a RINO whose dad and brother have already had their turn at ruining things; a former female VP candidate whose picture is in the dictionary next to the words “ditz” and “laughingstock”; and an Hispanic senator who can’t seem to get anywhere on immigration reform that’s acceptable to Hispanics)
“Scott Walker.” LMAO! (You mean the guy who is in court fighting charges of organizing an illegal campaign finance ring, and also had to face a recall election????)
“BIG Republican year.” ROTFL! (BIG for what? Losing the Senate and the presidency AGAIN!?)
Amen.
Larry… listen up brotherman. Obama is not your friend. He is NOT American. He is to America what Kim Philby was to the British. He looks American, he talks American, but he HATES America. Don’t rely on my word, read his books. Watch what he does. Our enemies, the enemies of freedom have been enriched and emboldened under our President. Radical Islam controls 5 times the territory it controlled under GWB. Christians, once as much as 20% in many Islamic countries are now down to one or two percent. They’re being systematically persecuted and murdered.
If Barack Hussein Obama is not in fact a Muslim, he missed his calling because he’s been the greatest benefactor of Islamo-Fascism since the original Ayatollah Khamenei in Iran.
Wow, Collo-Rosso. Essentially full disclosure on your part, and it’s scary. Actually, you’re scary. Obama hater. Birther. Conspiracy theorist. Muslim hater. Propagandist. Wow.
The proof is all around you, if you will only open your eyes. Conspiracy theorist you say? There’s a conspiracy going on alright, and it’s in your brains. Is ISIS not real? Are the beheadings not real? Is not radical Islam on the march? Were the Paris murders real or not. Are Christians not being persecuted?
Obama gets dreams from his socialist father. His mother was a fellow traveler. Obama lived in anti-American Indonesia as a child. Later, granddad decided Obama needed a Communist mentor. O got into Harvard on the recommendation of anti-Semitic Khalid al Mansour, an adviser to Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. In college O chose his friends carefully — “the more politically active black students, foreign students, Chicanos, Marxist professors and structural feminists.” As a professor he taught Marxist Saul Alinsky tactics, and as a constitutional scholar he believed that there are fundamental flaws in the Constitution, such as restraint on governmental power. As a community organizer and counsel he pushed sub-prime mortgages which helped buckle our economy.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2011/08/the_anti-american_president.html#ixzz3QAXfNgMq
Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook
You’re no longer heathens as you’ve been shown the light.
If I wanted to be generous (and I don’t necessarily but I’ll try) I would describe Obama as a woefully incompetent sociopathic narcissist with megalomaniac tendencies. Now that’s fine if he were running a Taco Bell, unfortunately his psychological issues translate into geopolitical issues the world has to deal with.
How long before Iran has nukes I wonder?
Which auto-biography have you read? What was it, two he wrote before the age of 40? Let’s see, one every twenty years or so plus a memoir, he should be looking at a fat seven figure book contract from some leftist New York publishing house (I know, it’s redundant). He might even sell a few copies apart from every public library in the country (a hotbed of owlish lib chicks in comfortable shoes). Of course NO ONE will actually read them but that’s not the point.
You gotta start drinking decaf or some beer man.
As someone who has lived in a Muslim country and interacted with people who had associations with a pro Al-Quaeda mosque I will say that hands down the most constant reframe I heard from angry young Muslim men was that America is waging a war against Muslims and then would point to Iraq.
If you think that George Bush’s adventurism was not a major boost to Jihadist networks and groups then you simply are not living in a reality based world.
BE SERIOUS!
Bill Clinton’s phone numbers were in Jeffrey Epstein’s little black book – it wasn’t just Prince Andrew that was receiving “first class service” on Epstein’s private jet. I think that qualifies as “actual prostitute solicitation”.
Not that anyone will necessarily be held accountable for dalliances with underage girls – but blackmail, on the other hand . . .
She’s yesterday’s news!
Do you guys really want to dredge up Benghazi and Bill’s whores? Plus Bill already burned through his political capital in 2012 getting Obama reelected, so he’s no use. Ain’t gonna be a whole lot of nostalgia for Obama’s tenure so how will she distance herself from our SECOND black President? By all accounts the Obamas and the Clintons hate each other’s living guts so BHO may not take kindly to Hillary trashing his legacy. The primary could well turn into a running leftist soap opera starring Valerie Jarrett and Michelle trading insults with the army of hackneyed Clintonistas in the mother of all proxy wars.
Look I hope it happens. I would LOVE to see Hillary be the Democrat nominee because a young, smart, ACCOMPLISHED guy like, for instance Scott Walker would eat her lunch.
But hey, what difference does it make? It’s going to be a BIG Republican year.
“yesterdays news”?
“bills whore”?
Based on this post you,as you say Walker is, obviously aren’t accomplished but somewhat sophomoric in your use of right wing and GOP trash talk.
And NO…it will not be a BIG republican year. But you are welcome to dream.