I haven't written a diary for quite awhile. Usually I am content to just absorb as much of what is here as I can in a short amount of time. But seeing the front page post by Devilstower, in which he quoted this
More than the war on terror, more than tax cuts and traditional values, stopping Hillary is the most effective means of energizing the GOP right now. Not even the evils of abortion, gay marriage and illegal immigration can whip up the same frenzy as a mention of the woman who was once first lady.
compelled me to ask you this question: Am I alone in thinking we can only lose this election by nominating Hillary?
Republicanism is forlorn and defeated right now. At least, it sure feels like it. They've found out how far their hate agenda could take them, and it didn't even take them through six years. Their talking points are so worn out that that the goodwill store couldn't even accept them now.
Yet I'm not ready to chalk up a Democratic victory in 2008. Perhaps it's just the wound of 2004 that's still sore, but I can't take any election for granted. And I'm afraid the one way we could lose this one is by nominating Hillary. Not only would she inspire the rightwingers to organize and mobilize, but I believe that many Americans still associate her with the previous Clinton administration and therefore wouldn't see her as a candidate for change. "Sure," they'll say, "she says things that sound good but when she takes office she'll just continue the same old game as always."
[Note: I'm not talking about what Hillary would actually do here, I'm talking about people's perceptions of her.]
To miss out on the excitement and hope for real change that is possible in this election would be a travesty. We have two candidates that can, I think, inspire people across the country to hope for REAL CHANGE. Barack Obama and John Edwards have shown that they can talk the talk and walk the walk. I have heard people (both online and offline) talk about Obama's and Edwards' appeal to ordinary voters who don't have a strong partisan affiliation but want an end to the "Washington Way."
I strongly believe that either Edwards or Obama, should they get the nomination, can inspire ordinary voters in a way that we have not seen for quite some time. They will win over Independents and even many dissatisfied Republicans. Americans are ready for a change.
What I'm really afraid of is for us to see Hillary win the nomination only to be immediately buried under a ton of attacks and apathy. If we lose this election, I think we will cry for our missed opportunity.
So.... how can we ensure that Hillary does not get the nomination? That's where I want to hear your ideas.
[Note: I like Hillary and would be happy to see any Democrat be elected at this point. I just think she is more likely to lose the general election than either Obama or Edwards. Feel free to disagree with this view.]