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Reluctant Hero · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject: Clinton to run for President

Hillary Clinton joins 2008 race

Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has taken the first step towards running for the US presidency in 2008.
Sen Clinton, 59, wife of former president Bill, announced her move on her website, saying "I'm in to win".

The former First Lady has set up a presidential exploratory committee, testing the waters for a full bid.

Her announcement comes days after African-American Democratic Senator Barack Obama said he had formed an exploratory committee.

In a videotaped and written message on her website, Sen Clinton said it was time "to overcome six years of Bush administration failures.

"The stakes will be high when America chooses a new president in 2008," she said.

"Only a new president can regain America's position as a respected leader in the world.

"This is a big election with some very big questions. How do we bring the war in Iraq to the right end?" she asked, in addition to mentioning several domestic issues, including health care, the environment and "energy independence".

Sen Clinton said she planned to answer questions in web chats on three consecutive nights, starting on Monday.

Her announcement brings to at least seven the number of declared Democratic presidential hopefuls.

'Front runner'

The BBC's Matt Frei in Washington says Sen Clinton's announcement has not surprised many but the specific timing of it this week is significant.

He says the senator was thought to want to declare her intensions later in the year, but her hand was forced by the man who is currently capturing the headlines and many of the hearts of the democratic rank and file - Mr Obama.

Sen Clinton would become the first First Lady to seek presidential office, while Mr Obama's entry into the race would raise the possibility of the US having its first black president.

HILLARY CLINTON
Born 26 October, 1947 in Chicago
Attended Wellesley College
Graduated from Yale Law School in 1973
Married Bill Clinton in 1975
Campaigner for expanding health insurance coverage and woman's rights
Elected New York senator in 2000; re-elected 2006

Profile: Hillary Clinton
Mr Obama is one of the Democratic Party's rising stars, having electrified the 2004 Democratic convention with a powerful speech.

Sen Clinton is currently serving as a senator for New York, having won a second term by a landslide last November.

Correspondents say that her unbeatable name recognition and unmatched fundraising ability make her a clear front runner for the Democrats.

Yet she is also seen as a divisive figure. Some estimates say one in three Americans would never vote for her.

Our correspondent says Sen Clinton's biggest policy problem is that she supported the Iraq war and at one stage even called for more troops to be deployed there.

Mr Obama's biggest problem is that as a 45-year-old first-term senator in a time of war, he is relatively inexperienced, our correspondent adds.

He says it is very early days but never before has the Democratic Party faced a choice between a black man and a woman.

Meanwhile, Republican senator Sam Brownback on Saturday declared his intention to seek his party's nomination for a 2008 run.

"My family and I are taking the first steps on the yellow brick road to the White House," Sen Brownback was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6282389.stm

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Gorbals · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:23 am Post subject:

I think Clinton, like her husband, is an evil, truth-twisting maniac who has the Hitleresque ability to look good and appeal to the right number and type of people at the right time. That said, she would be no worse a leader than the present gibbon in the Oval Office and to have her run for Presidency would raise a lot of wider issues that probably need discussing in America, e.g. the domination of US politics by WASP males.
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http://www.thisisnot1966.com- a wee laugh at the 'years of hurt'

Morph · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:12 am Post subject:

I dont think she would be worse that George Bush is at the moment. She certainly seems to be less about war than he is. Although if anyone would like to correct me on this please feel free
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"An oppressive government is to be more feared than a tiger"

Babygael · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:00 am Post subject:

Well Gorbals,here was I thining that Bill was the best President in my life time and if it weren't for American paranoia with "Sex with Monica" Bill would never have had so much as a by line in the paper for it!

Good luck Hillary!! What could be worse than what there is now??

However, as a Scot and NOT an American,I say let them get on with it! It's no never mind to me.
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Here is where I come to water my roots.

Neil · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:18 pm Post subject:

Bill was a lying genocidal Nazi war criminal & she totally supported him.

They should both, after a fair trial, swing by the neck.
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The aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
H. L. Mencken