POTUS Hillary Clinton, 2008

Hillary could never have successfully pandered to the left with Obama in the race. She supported the resolution to go into Iraq. From that point on, there was no way she would win their support. I live in NYC and was a bystander at the protests in '04... Everyone hated Bush, sure, but she wasn't much better to the young, urban, liberal circles. The minute Obama entered the race, Hillary had no choice but to go for the centrist side.

Also, no Palin if she's the nominee. Instead, I expect Hillary picks Richardson (a governor, not a Senator, has substantial cabinet-level experience, and is a member of the fastest growing minority). McCain's thunder is stolen - either he goes for a fresh-faced young governor (Pawlenty, probably), or he shocks people by naming a minority. He doesn't have many options, of course... J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, maybe Jindal (who gets the same treatment as Palin, being equally inexperienced)... and possibly most likely, Colin Powell of all people. Of course, he'll have wanted to pick a conservative, not a moderate. But especially if Obama isn't on the Dem ticket after making a run for it, no black presence on any ticket will seem like a 'wasted opportunity'. Plus, Powell still has respect, and ties together the pro-Bush forces with those who regard Powell as 'above' the Bushies. Result is a closer race, but Hillary still pulls it off.
 
Hillary could never have successfully pandered to the left with Obama in the race. She supported the resolution to go into Iraq. From that point on, there was no way she would win their support. I live in NYC and was a bystander at the protests in '04... Everyone hated Bush, sure, but she wasn't much better to the young, urban, liberal circles. The minute Obama entered the race, Hillary had no choice but to go for the centrist side.

Also, no Palin if she's the nominee. Instead, I expect Hillary picks Richardson (a governor, not a Senator, has substantial cabinet-level experience, and is a member of the fastest growing minority). McCain's thunder is stolen - either he goes for a fresh-faced young governor (Pawlenty, probably), or he shocks people by naming a minority. He doesn't have many options, of course... J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, maybe Jindal (who gets the same treatment as Palin, being equally inexperienced)... and possibly most likely, Colin Powell of all people. Of course, he'll have wanted to pick a conservative, not a moderate. But especially if Obama isn't on the Dem ticket after making a run for it, no black presence on any ticket will seem like a 'wasted opportunity'. Plus, Powell still has respect, and ties together the pro-Bush forces with those who regard Powell as 'above' the Bushies. Result is a closer race, but Hillary still pulls it off.

I disagree. She had the option to disavow and apologize for her vote for the Iraq resolution; if she had done that she would have undermined Obama's only real weapon. Her camp was divided over this issue, and those that wanted her to appear tough at all costs won out. A huge error, since she scored big whenever she displayed a human side.

I was in NYC too, and while you're right that the very young were for Obama, that's not true of older Democrats, by which I mean 25 and up.

Clinton would have picked Obama as her VP, and I say that with 100% certainty. She might as well pick a cardboard box as Richardson. He would have got a cabinet position or something.
 
I was 24 during the primaries and a Hillary supporter, so I guess I was bucking the trend among the very young Democrats.:D

Mind you, I didn't have a problem with Obama or Edwards, I just thought that Hillary was the strongest candidate and wouldn't take shit from anyone. That's my biggest fear every four years, that the Democrats nominate another Dukakis, i.e. someone who doesn't fight back. Kerry was like that, though he did do much better than Dukakis.
 
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