Politics

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President Hillary Just Might Be in the Cards
By Dan Blankenship


I’m no fortune teller, and I think tarot cards are for people with a little too much time on their hands. But if I were going to climb up on a soapbox and make a prediction, I would have to disagree with TIME magazine columnist Joe Klein, who predicted a 2008 bid for president by Hillary Rodham Clinton would “be a disaster on many levels.”

Not only do I – a devout conservative Republican who rarely has anything good to say about a Democratic officeholder – think Hillary would be a good candidate, I think she could win.

There is no doubt that Mrs. Clinton has some very vocal detractors determined to sabotage a campaign run before it makes it out of the train station. And on the other side, she has supporters who are willing to work tirelessly to see to it that their candidate takes her rightful place in the West Wing of the White House. Both groups of activists will have little effect on the outcome of a Hillary run for president.

If the former first lady and current New York Senator decides to make the leap to presidential candidate, it will be her race to win or lose. Anyone who underestimates this woman’s capabilities to lead this nation has not listened to her speeches, examined legislations she has authored, or witnessed her commitment to the American people. If she stresses her achievements during her campaign, she’ll do well. If she focuses on her opponents’ weaknesses, she’ll sink as fast as Al Sharpton in a “take me seriously” contest.

Mrs. Clinton will grab much of the liberal vote simply because there is no one else most liberals believe will upset ultraconservatives more than candidate Hillary. Nothing makes a liberal happier than to know they’ve offended a conservative, and this will be a chance to stick it to all us red state rednecks like never before.

Hillary will rally some conservative voters because many of us believe her victory will be an ego-buster for her husband. I laugh out loud when I think of Bill planning the décor of the many rooms in the White House while Hillary assembles her Cabinet. I’m absolutely sure every late night comedian will be supporting Mrs. Clinton’s bid for the White House; talk about a ratings booster!

But I have no fear that a Hillary presidency will turn into a fiasco of Jimmy Carter proportions. Hillary is too much the realist for that to happen. She has grown as a senator, and I believe she knows the world is not as black and white as some conservatives make it out to be; she also knows that government is not capable of creating an earthly paradise the way some liberals think it can. It is that middle-of-the-road approach to the 2008 campaign that just might catapult this articulate, far-sighted, and energetic politician to new heights.

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