Bill Clinton and the Democrat party.

There are those that believe that the former President will run for a new term in 2004. Others believe that he intends to reshape the DNC with his people and tackle the whole Congress in two years. Still others think that he is an embarrassment to the Democrats and will be edged out.

What is the opinion here. Is Clinton's power rising or falling in the innercircles of the party? Will he or Hilary run for the White House in 2004? What degree of success do you expect him to achieve?

At the moment, McAuliff and Daschle seem to be toast. Rightly or wrongly, Daschle's decision to obstruct the vote on Homeland Security is seen as a major factor in the election disaster. McAuliff's role is even more clearly drawn. Gephardt is in better shape, but on all sides there seems to be a power vaccuum for someone to fill. Clinton clearly wants to be the one to fill it.

J

Bill Clinton can't run for president, and Hillary Clinton has stated she will not run in 2004.

The Clinton crime family's power grip is quickly dwindling in the Democratic party and on the national stage. As the Democrats are gradually replaced by new blood in a desperate attempt to stay afloat, the old blood must go; and one of the worst political aftertastes for the Democratic party is the Clinton administration.

Originally posted by Toasty
Bill Clinton can't run for president, and Hillary Clinton has stated she will not run in 2004.

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Not true. The Constitutional Amendment states no more than two consecutive terms. Having sat out a term, Mr Bill is now eligible again.

J

Originally posted by onejayhawk
Will he or Hilary run for the White House in 2004? What degree of success do you expect him to achieve?

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I doubt President Clinton will ever run for the White House again. Hillary will not run for President anytime soon. I give her another 8 or 10 years before she tries.

I don't think Tom Daschle ever had his mind set on running for President. Dick Gephardt is a likely contendor, and even if he wins his party's nomination he sure as hell isn't going to win against George W. In my opinion, Al Gore is the best option to run against Bush. I don't know why people just want to wash him away - he's a strong leader, smart man, makes good decisions. Only people don't have the right image of him in their eyes. The problem with the Democrats right now is that they don't have any real leaders in their party. They don't have any clear goals, well they do, but they haven't made them clear to the people.

Anyhow, back to the topic at hand. The Democrats are going to have to reshape their style and image. Bill Clinton will probably remain a strong figure in the party, however he'll probably stay behind the scenes as a fundraiser and speaker. 2004 is going to be a tough battle for the Deomcrats to win, and they need a good strategy to get back in power. Let's see who'll step up to the plate.

I'd give Bob Kerry a serious look if he were the Democrat nominee in 2004, but it would take divine intervention for that to happen. Pity.

All the Democrats have to do is sit back and wait for 2004. The Republicans will overreach with their newfound power and all any Democratic presidential candidate will have to say is "Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?" Won't be a Clinton - but it really won't matter either way.

I'm not sure even the slick Willy knows what he wants to do, so second guessing him becomes that much more difficult.
*I'd give a 50% chance that he just stays behind the scenes, knocking elbows at the DNC and making celebrity appearances at basketball games (and taking long vacations with Barbra Streisand). Maybe going into some sort of law practice in a few years. I'm not sure, though, wasn't he disbarred in Arkansas for perjury? Is there a statute of limitations on that? Can he reapply? How much does that affect applying to take the bar elsewhere?
* I'd give 30% chance that he returns to some sort of active candidacy, though I'm not sure how well he'd be received.
* I'd give 19% that he goes the Fred Thompson route and becomes a professional actor. Think of the groupies. Heck, could there be a better spokesman for "Trojans"?
[Arkansas accent]
"Hey, folks, remember me? You remember Chelsea? You ever notice she didn't have any brothers or sisters? That's why I trust..."
[/Arkansas accent]
* I'd give 1% that he puts on tights, grows the sideburns, and tours the US as the greatest Elvis impersonator alive. Hey, you never know.

Actually, the Constitution says No more than 2 terms, or 10 years. So, he can't run again. By the same token, Gerald Ford could only have been re-elected one time since he has already served more than 2 years as President, not that he is running, but as an example of the rule.

http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html

Amendment XXII
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress.

My bad. I should have looked it up. I recalled the words as "twice in succession."

This does not of course prevent Hilary from running in 2004 or 2008. Bill of course could run for Congress, but I doubt that will happen. I can still picture him moving into the center of the DNC. To give him his due, he is the single best campaigner in the USA right now.

J

PS To those who think I dislike Clinton irrationally, here are some things I like about him: He is consistently free trade; he showed signs of skill in managing the economy; he is a truly brilliant speaker (and would be a great thespian); in the areas he has interest, he is hardworking and knowledgeable; great mind.

The Clintons still have a strong grip on the national party apparatus becasu they are BY FAR the best money raisers for the democ-rats, They position is still currently so strong, thye will be able to protect their man, McAuliff, if they chose to do so.

I've no idea if Hillary would ever want to run for The big job - only she knows that - but I believe she could give it a good shot if she wanted to in the future, but it would seem a bit early in her political career to do so in 2004. It would be imprudent to take on a challenge like that so soon, anyway. She needs to build up her skills and profile, really, before she can take it on.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) appears to be preparing to run in 2004. He will get my vote in the primary if he runs.

I'd like to know -- where's the outrage on the Marc (made Billyboy) Rich pardon?

Originally posted by rmsharpe
I'd like to know -- where's the outrage on the Marc (made Billyboy) Rich pardon?

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Why exactly do you have all this 'pardoniong' business?

Seems like a dreadful load of twaddle that simply courts controversy to me. That may be an un-American opinion.

Originally posted by Hamlet


Why exactly do you have all this 'pardoniong' business?

Seems like a dreadful load of twaddle that simply courts controversy to me. That may be an un-American opinion.

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Oh come now. Pardoning is a vestage of the Monarchy. There are advisory committees, and guidelines, but the man at the top has almost unrestricted power to wipe off any offense.

J

PS This all sounds like threadjacking to me.

Rich was the biggest tax-evader in the United States, he fled to Switzerland in 1983. He was pardoned in the final hours of Bill "Legacy" Clinton's administration.

Interestingly enough, Denise Rich gave at least a million dollars to the DNC...

Quoting Michael Moore, "Bill Clinton was the best REPUBLICAN President of the United States"

I don't want to see Clinton run again because people do not seem to favor him too much anymore. But I truly doubt he will; he is perfectly happy being out of the spotlight, in his private business (and personal ) affairs.

I would like to see John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, or Howard Dean run for the Dems in '04. Hillary seems to have already decided not to and Dean will have a tough time because he is not well-known around the country. John Kerry in my opinion is their best choice: a moderate Democrat, war-veteran who is a good speaker and can appear tough in foreign affairs.

It seems to me that Kerry, Daschle and Gore will all probably try to get the Democratic Nomination in '04. Hillary might try to run, but for some reason I doubt it.

The question is, which Democratic leader has the best chance of beating Bush? It seems to me that there is no single leader of the Democratic party and that is hurting their chances.

I miss Bill, those were happier times.

(Note: above is sarcasm)

And I have yet to find any candidate from any party to inspire me at all.

Originally posted by ApocalypseKurtz
Quoting Michael Moore, "Bill Clinton was the best REPUBLICAN President of the United States"

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Never has a Republican done like Clinton - blundered defense spending, selling secrets to the Chinese communists, giving a dangerous rouge state a pair of nuclear reactors, appeased the Iraqi dictatorship, sent our military off to do things that weren't in the interest of the United States (Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia), and gave us the biggest tax increase of our history.

That is no Republican. That's not even a Democrat.

That's a Clinton.