Wow Amy! What do you think about Hillary's win tonight? The media had buried her. I can't help but think the Republicans want anyone other than Hillary because she has been attacked with such a vengenance by the conservative media (Rush, Fox News, etc). What do you guys think? Big win for McKain, I think it comes down to McKain or Huckabee for the Republicans. I think Romney being Mormon hurts him along with him representing corporate America. Any opinions?

Oh Allison, you have no idea how excited I was when I found out that Hillary took NH. I was estatic. I personally think that It's going to be a long, long road for us Democrats but I pretty much think that Huckabee will come out on top for the Republicans, for the nomination.

I don't think that any Republican is a very strong candidate. I know I'm a democrat, and I don't follow their candidates as closely as I do the Democrats, but still.. I just don't feel it's there for any of them.

I too think that the Republicans have this special hate for Hillary Clinton. haha. They attack her personally. It's very obvious that they do not want her to get the nomination. .

Amy, indeed it is going to be a long road. My hope is that the Dems have learned from the failed candidacies (sp?) of '00 and '04. I know that the election of 2000 was in several ways an anomaly, what with the recounts and the fact that Gore won the popular vote, but just how many times did his campaign give him a makeover? But the point is this: while it's apparent that for way too long many Dems haven't wanted to stoop to the level of the Repubs when it comes to the way they conduct themselves politically, I say it's damn time the gloves came off. The Repubs want a fight? I say give it to them. No more of this Mr. Nice Guy/Mrs. Nice Lady stuff.

Congrats to Hillary! I tuned in late to CNN and MSNBC to check on the primary results and caught her speech, and Barack's.

Talking about the Repubs' reaction(s) to Hillary, wasn't it early in the 2004 presidential campaign season (maybe even in 2003) that the Repubs kept talking up a run by Hillary and started formulating a response? I seem to recall that they were among the first to suggest that she would run, long before anyone else did. I think the attention she has received from the other side, since her election to the Senate, shows how afraid they are.

Anyway, I agree with your prediction on Huck or McCain, but while it is too early to tell, right now I think McCain may have a slight advantage overall. Plus, I read something on the Internet the other day indicating there are factions within the Repub party that are working against Huck, so we'll see.

How would you feel about a Clinton/Obama ticket?

I agree with you. They knew that she was coming in 2008, and they were going to be ready for her. Luckily, she is very strong-minded and hardcore whenever it comes to sticking to her guns, and don't let them get the best of her. Although, her voice might have cracked up a bit when she lost the Iowa battle, that just proves that she is human and she does have emotion. Anyone that worked hard and put all the time and money into a campaign and then come up a loss is going to cry a little. . it's a part of nature.

If McCain comes up the Republican nominee, the Republicans can kiss this election goodbye. JMO.

Clinton/Obama team? How do I feel about that? I'm not real sure how I feel about it to tell you the truth. I would have to think about that and get back to you! haha.

I am sure some of the Clinton worshippers are a little giddy this morning after that close primary win by poster girl for American Socialism but I think its a little premature to be putting her crown on. I would hardly call it a convincing win but a win is a win. She should have done a lot better than she did. New Hampshire, much like Iowa is not indicative of who the nominee will be. Its still a long way to go and if the press would quit giving her a free pass you will see that she and the Clinton political machine are not unbeatable. The Democrats biggest mistake right now is thinking that no Republican can win in November. Better think again

It was WAY to early for the media to count her out after the Iowa loss. I am not a Hillary Clinton supporter but I also do not see how her policies are any different than Obama's, and they are actually, in my opinion, much more moderate than Edwards. No Spin, in your opinion, why is the right wing of the Republican party so hard on Hillary? Do you think it is because they haven't gotten over the Bill Clinton years, or the fact that she is a woman, or a little of both? Maybe they believe she will be harder to beat in November than the other Democrats. I mean, let's be fair, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and virtually every conservative media personality has gone after Hillary much moreso than the other Democrat front runners. What is your opinion as to why? Also, in your opinion, are there any significant differences between Hillary and Obama? It seems to me that under an Obama administration, the military will be cut dramatically. He also favors universal health care. I think he is probably even a little more liberal than Hillary. John Edwards is basically a socialist in my opinion.

if obama wins your scial security check may go to kenya to help relatives.

Well Allison I think alot of what the conservatives on the right dislike about her is her far left views on social issues and the Socialist idea of health care. Democrats like Hillary are constantly preaching a largess type government much like France. In other words dont want for anything because we (Democrats)will create some government program to give it to you. Democrats have historically never been about self independence but rather about government reliance.
Hillary Clinton is a power player in the world of politics mainly because of who she married and her own ambition for power. And thats ok. The fact that she is a woman creates a far different spectrum than we have seen before.
Rush Limbaugh has made a career of his commentary on the Clintons. But I give Rush credit, if it wasnt for him the Republicans would never have had a media outlet like talk radio that gives a conservative point of view which was never done on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC and even PBS. Liberal Democrats have tried to launch the ill fated AirAmerica radio network and fell on their face. Probably because people dont won't to hear a bunch of sissy Hollywood actors talk about Global Warming and gay marriage.
But Hillary Clinton will be a force to be reckoned with and not to be taken lightly. Barack Hussien Obama is an oddity. He is fiercly protected by the press. One question before I close this rant. How come its always the Republican candidates that have to answer questions about religious faith? The only time you see Hillary in a religious setting is when she is in Al Sharptons or Jesse Jacksons congregation and speaking with a fake southern accent. If the Democrats had any brains they would nominate Bill Richardson.

No, I disagree on the Religion question. If anything, Democrats have to defend their right to be a Christian. It's like it's just not right to be a Democrat and be a Christian. That's insane. But that's what most Republicans think. Now THAT really makes me mad when that comes up, and Republicans start in on religion and democrats. Ridiculous.

Socialized health care? You mean like that which our politicians receive?

The link below will bring you up to speed on this:

http://www.rd.com/content/congressmen-getting-benefits-the-average-american-does-not-/

After you read about the health care subject at the above article, I'd like for you to tell us why every American does not deserve the option to get the same plans that our politicians get.

Have you even read Hillary's plan for health care reform on her web site? If so, specifically which part(s) do you envision as socialized, and why? Is offering Americans the same access to health care that politicians enjoy leading us down the road to socialism? I guess this means that our politicians support socialized medicine.

Next, I wonder if you'd go read Giuliani's plan, and explain how he is going to get his reforms without some type of government intervention. Specifically, let's look at a few excerpts from his plan:

Drive Quality and Price Transparency: Rudy believes creating visibility of price, provider qualifications, and risk-adjusted procedure outcomes will expand competition and open up new motivation for improving quality and reducing cost.

-and-

Reward States For Innovative Solutions: Rudy will encourage states to improve health care quality and make health insurance more affordable by offering block grants to encourage innovation, reduce health costs, enroll eligible uninsured, and solve adverse selection issues.

Does he expect the insurance companies to voluntarily abide by his wishes? Will he have to say "pretty please"? In the second example, he wants to "encourage" states to improve quality, etc. What if they don't comply? What will he then do? Revoke any tax credits they get? Tell them that he'll refuse to give them any grants? Wouldn't that be kind of like, you know, the government involving itself in the health care industry where now it isn't involved? Offering grants? Doesn't that smell of government dabbling in the insurance industry?

Yeah I know all about the politicians in Washington having health care that we so called average American will not ever see in all probability. Thats basically the politicians looking out for themselves before taking care of their constituents.Shame on all of them. Thats not socialism but merely personal aggrandizement and greed. As for Hillary and her plan it just plain stinks. How will the taxpayers pay for it? Yeah I know at this point you are going to mention the war. I believe that the free market should be given a chance not HillaryCare. The American people didn't by into it when she was President before (ahem)so I don't see them doing it now.
As for Rudy G. I am not a supporter and he is a closet Liberal Democrat in my view who will pander to the far left interest if elected. Just an opinion. Actually Ron Paul is starting to look good right now. You Democrats could use a guy like him. He makes sense. He is not a fake crying woman (Hillary) he's not a closet Muslim (Obama) and he's not an ambulance chaser (John Edwards). In other words the weakest Republican candidate understands the Constitution, speaks the truth without scripted answers or questions and is not afraid to appear on FOXNEWS even if they do edit out one of his responses from the last debate and makes more sense than all three of the Democrats strongest candidates.

If Ron Paul was a Democrat, you would hate him too!

In an earlier post you referred to Hillary's "socialist idea of health care." I asked you to point out specifically which parts of her plan you view as socialist, and you declined. What's wrong? You can make the accusations but you can't back them up?

I asked you to view Rudy's plan, in part wondering if you'd label it as socialist as well. As stated earlier, I don't see how he can reach his goals without some sort of government intervention. Instead you brush him off as a closet liberal. If you don't support him, that's fine; in fact, I don't see how anyone could support him given his obvious exploitation of the 9/11 attacks. The man can't seem to utter a single sentence without referencing it, no matter the topic of discussion. Sure, I realize that people can't, and shouldn't, judge a candidate on one single topic, however he seems to be basing his entire claim of qualification for the presidency on that one single event.

The free market should be given a chance? What opportunities do you see materializing that we haven't yet seen?

No one is expecting New Hampshire to be indicative of the eventual nominee.

So the Democrats can't win in November? And you have the nerve to call US premature?

I'm not crowning anyone yet. I haven't thought a Republican can pull a win off this election since about, 2004 when I seen how sorry of a President that Bush was. That's just my opinion though, I could be very wrong. If I am, then that's okay too because I'll take anyone--Republican or Democrat over Bush ANYDAY.

And, Clinton, is a strong candidate and everyone knows that. But, trust me, I'm not crowning anyone yet. She's got a long hard road ahead of her.. I'm just excited that she won NH. That's all. :)

Hillary is the only candidate from either party not getting a free ride from the press.

Well Lilly I guess since she pulled that fake crying deal the other day before the New Hampshire primary they have been a bit more hard on her. That was a page right out of old Slick Willies playbook. I bet James Carville and Paul Begalia dug deep for that one. And she didn't even have to use an onion to cause the tears. I would venture a guess that she thought about her marriage to Bill to help bring on the tears. That would make any woman cry.Bill started getting momentum in 1992 when he uttered "I feel your pain"(that would foreshadow what would come later) so I guess this would be Hillary's trademark----tears for any occasion.

Why can't you just admit it, the woman is a human being?

Well , for one I'm against the U.S. congress having special health care coverage. I am very against Hillary's plan for a similar type of coverage for all americans due to the cost and how damaging it would be to the U.S. economy to raise taxes to that level to pay for it. The defense budget would take a huge hit I'm sure. Romney's health care plan is better and wouldn't require raising taxes.

I agree with Amy that if McCain gets the nomination there is no way he will win. Romney and Huckabee both would have a good chance no matter who the democratic opponent is. I think McCain would make a good running mate for either of them. I think on the democratic side a Clinton/Obama or a Obama/Clinton ticket is unlikely. I think Richardson gets the nod if Obama wins the nomination and I think Edwards gets the nod if Hillary wins. I believe Hillary winning the democratic nomination gives the republicans the best chance because I think it would fire up the conservative and moral/religious base and get out the vote in huge droves for repubs. If Obama wins he doesn't fire up the right as much as Hillary and he would get alot of new voters into the polls in terms of all the under 30 support he has. Obama also presents a stiffer challenge because he is a skilled orator and offers a more positive message than Hillary. I feel similar to Hillary the way Amy does to Bush. I don't care as much if it's a republican or democrat who wins so long as it isn't Hillary. Make no mistake I will support the most conservative candidate which will certainly be a republican but I could live with Obama.

Reading Romney's plan, one of the steps he mentions is deregulating state markets. How will he do this? From his web site:

"Encourage states to eliminate the cumbersome insurance regulations that drive costs up and providers out of the market."

Does he say how he will "encourage" the states to do this? What if they say, "no thanks"?

Speaking of Romney's health care plan and your dislike of the health care that Congress gets, would you also feel the same re: President Romney? Do you think Romney, in a show of principle, would turn down that coverage and instead elect coverage through the free market system?

He has said he would and also stated he would donate his salary to charity causes if elected.

It would be interesting to see if he followed through on this.

Ha! How about Pres. Bush, Robert Gates, Rep. John Boehner, Mitt Romney, and Bush Sr. crying? Guess those incidents were fake, too.

Oh, and you still have not answered my questions about the "socialistic" health care proposals posted a few days ago in this thread.