The Clintons

As I go through news stories on Hillary Clinton from both the Washington Post and the New York Times (both are free online), I'm learning a great deal about her, and the family as a whole.

I've sort of come to think of Hillary as The Six-Million Dollar Woman. She's better, stronger, faster than she was before. Hillary has shown adaptivity throughout the years, and I think this is one of her greatest strengths. For example, she chose to keep her maiden name when she married, I believe to stay her own person, and for the simplicity in the sake of business purposes (Hillary has always been a career woman, not a trophy wife of a governor and president; she was an attorney at the Rose Law Firm before Bill was elected governor the first time) however, the people of Arkansas didn't like that feministic quality. She then went from Hillary Rodham to Hillary Clinton, and I think it made her a whole lot more likable. I don't find it anti-feminist of her, although I could see why some would. It seems more like a personal sacrifice for her husbands campaign, and this is where the Clinton's strength lies - America doesn't elect candidates alone, but that candidates whole family, and in particular their spouse.

Bill Clinton is a force to be reckoned with in terms of fund-raising. Reading Hillary's financial disclosure to the Senate, you can see that he's bringing in all of the cash, and he's doing it on speeches alone. I think the going rate is $125,000, but some are more than twice that for events outside the United States. I believe that Bill is one of the most likable people in American politics today, somewhat like an honorary Kennedy of the sixties - I think America would overwhelmingly reelect him President given the chance again, but that point is plenty moot. It seems like he may become the Ronald Regan of Democrats, but it would be hard to take JFK or FDR's place in that party. For now, at least, he's their Golden Boy.

In the 2000 election, the impeachment and Lewinsky scandal still fresh in America's minds, Al Gore decided not to use Clinton as an asset. Al lost Arkansas, most likely for this reason. Kerry did the same in 04, with the same result. Hillary isn't making that mistake. She's wearing a button that says "Bill for First Lady" and the money keeps rolling in. Bill's role is a tough one though. It has been decided that he wouldn't hold a cabinet position. His campaigning refreshes what we didn't like about the Clinton Presidency. She has stated that he would be, or could be considered, as an ambassador, which I think would be a great job for him. Bill is very charming, and knows how to use the press as an asset and not a check on his behavior.

During his early years at the head of the nation, the Republicans took control of the Congress for the first time in decades. Would Hillary mean the same thing for the party? Democrats have a very narrow lead, particularly in the Senate. I think their "performance evaluation" will have a lot to do with her election consideration.

I think Hillary has chosen well to send Bill off on his own election campaign. For now, everything Bill does is run directly through her, to avoid Bill's micromanagement patterns. They've said that in 08, he may have his own team and travel of sorts. It's the doublemint campaign, double the candidate, double the vote.