John Phillips: Why Hillary Clinton must run in 2012

If Hillary Clinton's primary voters and President Obama had their relationship status listed on their Facebook pages, it would change from “Married” to “It's complicated.”

To be fair, Hillary voters never fell in love with Obama, they just fell in line. Their relationship is less like a Julia Roberts chick flick and more like a Bengali arranged marriage.  

Because of their arrangement, Hillary-loving Obama voters are quick to jump ship whenever Mr. Hope-and-Change looks like he's getting played again by his political opponents, is in over his head or is dissing their girl.

Despite Obama's anti-climactic campaign announcement just now, according to all the recent polls, Hillary voters aren't only jumping ship –- they're taking their fins, snorkels and pina coladas with them.

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows President Obama's approval rating at....

...a pathetic 42% –- down four points from early March. The American public isn't impressed with his handling of the crisis in Libya either -– with 47% of the public against the war and 58% of registered voters saying the president has not clearly stated U.S. goals for the mission. 

These numbers are bad –- really bad –- CNN prime time ratings bad.

To put them into context, according to Gallup, 76% of Americans supported military action against Iraq in 2003, 90% gave the A-OK for strikes against Afghanistan in 2001, and 65% approved of putting boots on the ground in Somalia in 1993. 

It's also important to state that this isn't part of a "throw all the bums out" mood directed at Washington.

The approval numbers for Hillary are nearing an all-time high –- with Gallup showing 66% of Americans giving "Hill the Thrill" a big thumbs up –- up from 61% in July.

This leads to the questions: Why are one out of three Hillary lovers giving Obama bad marks? Will they stick with him in November 2012?

And, most importantly, if she senses enough blood in the water, will Hillary quit the administration and launch a primary bid against Obama?

Hill-rage at Obama

Hillary Clinton's big selling point during the 2008 Democratic primaries was that she was an experienced hand who's been around the block a few times...not like how her husband has been around the block...but, you get the point.

Then-Sen. Clinton's "3 AM Phone Call" ad drove that point home. The 30-second TV spot raised the possibility of a future world crisis and asked voters who they would want in the White House making the big decisions if all hell broke loose. 

Hillary voters ate it up with a spoon –- deciding that an awakened and enraged Clinton with cold cream on her face and curlers in her hair is far scarier to third-world despots than an ex-Illinois state senator.

The military action in Libya is Team Hillary's 'I told you so' moment...with Hillary serving as the realistic, aggressive war hawk and Obama being a not-ready-for-prime-time waffler.

This frustration was expressed by a Clinton insider in the British newspaper The Daily, who said, "Obviously, she’s not happy with dealing with a president who can’t decide if today is Tuesday or Wednesday, who can’t make his mind up...it’s like playing sports with a bunch of amateurs. And she doesn’t have any power. She’s trying to do what she can to keep things from imploding.”

This may not be a vote of no confidence...but at a minimum, it's voting 'present.'

Hill today, gone tomorrow

Hillary voters weren't swooned by Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaries and many are abandoning him in public opinion surveys today. But are they mad enough to ride the elephant in 2012? 

Get out the saddle, because that's exactly what they did in 2010.

In the midterm elections, while it's true the Democrats were routed everywhere, they got especially creamed in states where Hillary did well. In House races, the Democrats lost four seats in Florida, six in New York, five in Ohio, four in Pennsylvania and three in Texas –- all states Hillary carried in the 2008 Democratic primaries. 

Meanwhile, the Democrats strengthened their hand in places that went heavily for Obama in 2008 –- with pickups in Hawaii, Delaware and the MSNBC prime-time lineup.

The lesson: Hillary voters aren't only willing to pull the plug on their fellow Democrats -– they're willing to yank it like they're starting a lawn mower.

What the Hill? Hillary in 2012?

While it's true the Clintons are ambitious people, they've never been known to go on suicide missions -– those are for terrorists and hotel chains willing to rent rooms to Charlie Sheen. 

Despite her contemporary denials, Hillary would only throw her hat in the ring if she thought she had a better than even chance at moving back into the White House. Obama is looking weak, but not weak enough to justify a primary challenge...yet.

If Libya turns into a full blown disaster...resulting in billions of dollars wasted, boots on the ground and abysmal public opinion numbers, my money is on Hillary resigning her post as secretary of State and jumping in the 2012 primary.

She can even rerun the "3 AM Phone Call" ad...with the tagline 'See, I told you so.'

Previous John Phillips' Ticket items

For Republicans in 2012, it's Sarah Palin or another big fat L

At CPAC with Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin

Lessons from a political visit to Washington

-- John Phillips

Strangely enough, a man named John Phillips hosts “The John Phillips Show” on Talk Radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, which can be heard weeknights from 6 to 10 p.m. Pacific.  Outside Southern California, his show is available live online at KABC.com  Also follow Phillips on Twitter  @JohnnyDontLike

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Photos: Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[what?]

What? Hillary pushed Obama into Lybia. She is on public record supporting intervention before Obama was. She CANNOT run on that. Likewise the Dem establishment is behind Obama and she would be seen as weakening him (recall Carter and Kennedy). It would be a horrible move and she is too smart to do it.

[Yeeeech]

Oh please, give me a break. Hillary Clinton's qualifications were being married and putting up with Bill. Failing at Health Care and not making cookies. She is a ordinary lawyer from a small city and was an arrogant First Lady. She is a primary architect of the Libyan mess. She is a lack luster Secretary of State and has aligned herself with other mediocre personalities in performance, notably Ambassador Rice (UN) and anti-semitic Advisor Samantha Powers. Can't the DNC find anyone better to run?

[ScottN]

The Hildabeast has already stated point blank and without mincing words that she is NOT interested in running for president and would not consider it.

Of course, that lying sack of xxxx said the same thing soon after she was elected to the Senate from NY. And we all know how truthful to her word she was then...

[Schratboy]

The reasons why Hillary should run are no more valid that why Obama should be thrown out of office. It's fodder for distracting the indolent masses and burns valuable fossil fuel.

Let both Hillary and Barry follow their logical course to private sector lobbying and sycophancy, something they both know very well among their bankster backers.

[Guest]

She's just as bad as Obama... and she's even better friends with Soros than Obama is. Who we really need to run is Chris Christie or Michelle Bachmann. We need to undo the mess Obama put us in.

[Lee]

BHO wrote: "if she got the nomination all the blacks would stay home. GOP win."

_________________

Uh, BHO...it really doesn't matter what blacks do. There aren't enough of them. They vote overwhelmingly Democrat no matter what, even when Republicans win in landslides. It was WHITE votes that put that son of a white woman -- Obama -- over the top, and if enough of them dislike what he's been doing, then he's back out, again. It's that simple. Blacks are only 12.5% of the U.S. populace, and of that even fewer are eligible to vote. They do not control what happens in the USA, as a whole. They do not decide elections, not ultimately. They never have. It all comes down to how the white vote falls.

[jerry]

At this point anyone, even another liberal would be better than what we have now. Obozzo actually despises America.

[Jack Kinch(1uncle)]

2012 would be Hillary's last chance and since anyone would be an improvement over Nomobama, go for it. I would vote anyone but Nomobama for the job. BUT we can no longer afford a demo in the WH.
They are a party of special interest group tax users.
The demo party has moved to the 'extreme' left. There is little they want do to hurt the country.

[Onevet]

First BOBO, now BIMBO. So much for the cream of the crop, looks like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

[John Poland]

The Phony people Dems Love !! O Bama's life story is Pure Concoction that is all made up as people look into it. And the Lame Stream media says Nothing. And Hillary ..What a Joke ! She never has accomplished anything..from phony commodities trading to having her law partner go to jail for her incompetence, SweetHeart land deals that were money Laundering scemes..botched health care reform to a Laughable senate seat .She did Noting as a NY senator but run for Predident. Her Resume is she got power because her husband was caught with his pants down with an intern on her knees. A dummy with her face on it could do everything she has done , except it may be more attractive to her husband if she was deflaitable. At 3 Am when the phone rings ..she is use to getting calls from women who want her to get Bubba's Butt out of their house before their husbands get home. Vince Foster and Ron Brown are turning over in their graves...Their mouths are sealed ! She can have the slogan" Change you only HOPE to Believe In"

[Dave]

we will have four years of this clown
we do not need 4 more of clown 2
Herman Cain in 2012
Fair Tax

[TC]

Some of the Hillary supporters will "fall in line" and vote for Obama. Just like the L.A. Times will "fall in line" endorse him. Party above all else.

[Jen]

Hillary will not run against Obama. That's why she didn't run in 2004 when Kerry got the nomination. She didn't want to run against incumbent Bush as it is very hard to unseat a sitting President. Carter and Bush1 are the only one-term Presidents that I've seen in my 40 years of voting, in fact since Hoover in 1933.

[Hugh Jardin]

Remember:

Casa Grande
White Water
Travelgate
Vince Foster's murder
Rose Law Firm billing records surprise

This woman must go away forever!!!!!!!

[Quick Time]

Palin/Clinton 2012

[Danae]

Natural Born Citizen is one born under the sole jurisdiction of one single Nation.

This is true in Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, Russia EVERY nation on earth.

How can a man born under the British Nationality Act of 1948 be a Natural Born Citizen of the United States?

Answer: It is NOT possible.

Obama was born under the jurisdiction of TWO different nations, and was born a Dual Citizen just like Mexican anchor babies are.

Hillary must run because OBAMA CANT. The cretin should be thrown in prison for treason for usurping POTUS.

[Joe]

This article doesn't make sense. On one hand, the author is saying that Obama is weak militarily, wavered on making a decision about Libya, etc. He brings up Clinton's 3am phone call commercial and says folks lapped it up, she'd have been decisive about Libya, stronger, etc. But didn't the author also claim earlier that America doesn't like the Libyan operation?

[tom B]

Now that is funny..."let's do it RIGHT in 2012." Almost sounds like the Hill would be after the conservative vote from that vast right wing conspircy. I don't think so, lets try "What's LEFT in 2012" Now that fits.

[RussG]

We've had enough incompetence and corruption I think.

Hillary Clinton has created and more foreign policy crises in two years than the last 10 or 20 Secretaries of State put together.

No more Bushes, Clintons or Obamas, please. We need honest, intelligent AMERICAN leadership, and we need it focused here at home. We need to kick out almost every government official currently in office, bring our troops home and start working on our own problems.

[Nancy Pelosi]

Just look for the little man sitting in a canoe.

[Ethan]

She should run. Anything will better than the rookie.

[XPIOLT]

She can't run fast enough or far enough for me.

[vicfromvolta]

Of course, she's running. Love them or leave them, the Clintons are the shrewdest of politicians. They knew exactly what they were doing in 2008.
The President Obama freight train had left the station and there was no stopping it. She got out late, but early enough to leave the door open.
Libya will hurt her more than the President because it seems she and a couple of his appointees literally forced him to do it. At least, that's how I saw it...
It will be a competitve primary and interesting to watch the timing of her entry.

[John Lahart]

So on March 4th Mr Phillips writes that Sara Palin should run because Obama is pretty much unbeatable--"he has to lose the election for any Republican to win it."
A mere thirty days later, the same Mr Phillips seems to be hedging his bet, suggesting Hillary Clinton might be a viable alternative Obama in 2012; and notes:
"Obama is looking weak..."
It appears, to Mr Phillips at least, that Obama is starting to show some weakness just as his 2012 campaign is beginning.
Obama has been a disaster any way one looks at it. Hillary has also been a mess. The real policy is made behind the scenes by people who would never pass muster via a Senate hearing or with most Americans. Lurking behind Hillary's skirt is one Samantha Power and Susan Rice the "designing women" of the Libya fiasco. Hillary is left to make serious flubs like calling Assad a "reformer."
"Boots on the ground?" You must be joking! Obama has learned nothing from past humanitarian efforts like Somalia and Haiti and worse; non efforts like Rwanda and Darfur.

One has to suspect that Obama is more comfortable with the UN and avoided going to congress for approval to embark on his (Samantha's/Susan's) tepid fly over support for the greedy oil driven Euros. He and Hillary would've had to supply some intelligence that suggested a slaughter of civilians was impending. Since the CIA and Intelligence folks were "on the ground" after the Obama effort began--they still have no reasonable handle on who the opposition/rebels are-that would have been impossible.

God willing Sarah Palin will replace this confederacy of dunces (really anyone with a modicum of real life experience and some decision making ability).

[psutopgun]

Clinton is a female Obama and America can not afford to take much more of either one. She is a Saul Alinsky fan too. We do not want either one of them in OUR HOUSE.

[Seth]

How odd that Mr. Biden's name rates nary a mention.

[Waco Willie]

Run Hillary, run. See Hillary run. Run straight into the swamp and don't come back you mindless worthless twit. And take Obama with you. Go play Rastus an Liza in de swamp! But whatever you do, just don't come back to DC. You had your chance, you did your dance, now leave!

[Terry Moore]

She can beat Obama...........but No democrat will be our next president...not for a long time to come...to the end of times.

[Bob Forsberg]

So you dumped the Witch for the Fool in 2008, now you want to dump the Fool for the Witch in 2012?

It will be fun to watch the Witch debate another Fool (Trump) in 2011. Bring it on!

[trax]

Wow John Phillips... were you on the space station during the 90's?

You don't have a clue how MOST Americans feel about Hillary Clinton(Team Clinton).. do you?

"Bill and Hillary Clinton should be in prison for crimes against humanity for what they did to their fellow citizens at Waco, TX, on April 19, 1993"

I agree. Deciding to punish 23 children with poisonous gas because their parents were bad is unforgivable. I cant believe sycophants like Mr. Phillips choose to ignore this fact.

Imagine if Vincent Foster was suicided by BushCo.. how many made-for-tv movies would there be at this point? Lemme guess... a bunch.

Keep up the phat work, John.

[Fanny Forbes Franklen]

"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." ~ H. L. Mencken --------- http://911essentials.com

[Ster]

"if she got the nomination all the blacks would stay home. GOP win."

Sad. You think all blacks automatically vote Dem and all are racist.

That proves that YOU are the racist.

[Sophie]

This is so funny--just suggest that Hillary could run in 2012 and all the right-wing conspiracy nuts, afraid of female girly parts come out screaming,"Vince Foster!"

I don't think the black people will stay home if Hillary runs. A lot of black people are equally pissed at Barack do-nothing Obama. As Big Dawg said, "It's the economy, stupid" something Barack has yet to comprehend.

No sense of priority. No statesmanship. No ability to get anything done. No desire to get anything done. Golfer in chief. Is he even good at it?

[Kathleen]

Are we to guess the ending of George Soros' fiction piece? Obama, at the urging of the media-proclaimed fasionista wife, opts not to run for re-election. This, of course, would occur once the polls confirmed the worst president in our history could not win.

Are we to believe that Hillary Clinton is any less a George Soros Globalist than Obama? That would be comedy, not fiction.

[psadie]

Do you think that the majority of sane voters would even elect Hillary Clinton after knowing who she and Obama really emulate? Saul Alinsky lovers, socialists/marxists, money-grubbing politicians, new world order promoters and Soros players. The public is well-informed now more than ever. They see that socialism does not work no matter what is said. Our country is in shambles and the players are much the same Clinton/Obama people. If she does run, there will be more than tea partners voting because we are damn sick and tired of the colossal waste in this government.

[John McGinnis]

I'd never heard of John Phillips before . . . and now I know why! Hillary challenging the president in 2012 is a Republican dream . . . that ain't never gonna happen! There is always the possibility that Joe Biden may decide he's enjoyed enough of the vice presidency and if that should happen, then the Democratic dream ticket of Obama-Clinton will destroy whoever the Republicans come up with. The best the Repugs can hope for is that Petraeus is ready in 2016.

[trax]

""all the right-wing conspiracy nuts, afraid of female girly parts come out screaming,"Vince Foster!""

G-O-N-G!

That's your comeback for Waco?

Nervermind the 23 children.. right Sophie? Riiiiight!

Nothing to see here... move along...

Cuz only a conspiracy nut could/would not like Hillary.

Keep up the phat work.

[sue]

I wanted Hillary to win I helped on her camp, but would not do it again. even if she said she was running I would not vote for her

[gregg]

Like Hillary the pro-abort, pro-homosexual globalist socialist i anything different from Obama? Give me a break.

[Nelson]

Second the motion: Let's Get It Right In 2012.

[a. gabriel]

Clinton is as bad a choice as obama for sure. Enough clintons. Plus, she has become old-looking and tired and ragged. Her arrogance is disgusting, too.

[RobbieK]

Hillary Clinton must run in 2012 to avoid making the landslide loss the Democrat Socialist Party of America will suffer more bearable. Barak Obama is going to lose in the worst defeat in American history. November, 2010 proved that, as millions of people voted against his agenda. If Hillary won the nomination, it would stop the worst defeat of a candidate in U.S. history, although Clinton would not fare much better that Obama in the upcoming loss.

[opiniononly]

Had her royal majesty won the dem nomination in 08, and subsequently the '08 general election, she wouldn't have done anything any different than Obama has. Remember healthcare was her baby long before we'd ever heard of Obama. We would be in exactly the same place, talking about oh, how you wish you'd voted for hope and change. Note to libs: it's not the personalities, but the policies we despise.

And also, nice try on the "experience" thing, but I'm not buying. Hillary is EXACTLY as inexperienced as Obama, unless you libs are ready to admit (after years of denial) that she was the brains behind Bill Clinton's (who's now your sagacious elder statesman) presidency. Otherwise, you should support Laura Bush for president -- she was first lady for eight years, too.

[Willard White]

What a quandary the rats have begot. Should they push for four more years of change from the waffling witless wonder boy or go with door number 2?

[Ginny Roemer]

I am one of those Obama hating Hillary supporters and I realize that she isn't running. So the article is fun to read but that's all. I would like to say that " it don't hurt any more...trouble is, it don't hurt any less." One of the saddest things is that Hillary would have done much better and then Obama might have had gathered enough experience to be a decent first black president instead of the mediocre one he has just served up.

This 2012 start off with planning to raise a billion makes me want to vomit. It reminds me of Obama refusing the public funding option during the primary - and so it all began. Thanks you Obama idealists. Thanks for nothing.

[JuanValdez]

Hillary must run because of her runaway ambition.

[John Smith]

Hilary Clintoin is the "Spoiler Candidate" Selcted by Obama to soak up the female vote that would have gone to Sarah Palin..... I think the Democrats are playing with too old a "WIN PLAN" Book. How do they know Palin will be Obama's challengrer????

[Musicman]

Hillary Clinton is just as far left as Obama. She is just better at it. Clinton was personally mentored by Saul Alinsky himself, and she remained good friends with him until his death. The left has taken a bad situation and compounded it immeasurably. Perhaps even irreparably. It would be a horrible mistake to elect another radical leftist into the White House. Simply put, it ain't gonna happen...

[Backinthesaddleagain]

R U Kidding??? The Democratic Party needs to be blown up and laws should be put in place to never again allow socialists, liberals and communists to be elected. Nevermind the fact that Obozo is a freakin' Kenyan. If you like communism that much, picj a country and I'll pay for your one way ticket. LOSERS!

[Doc in TX]

I am a Republican who cannot stand Hillary... But I would vote for her in a second over Obama. Run Hillary Run!