The Trouble With Hillary

Even though she only took runner-up status to Lovee Smith in Chicago over the weekend, I think it's important to note that Hillary Clintion announced for President. That gives both top Dem candidates Chicago roots, which of course is good for the entire country.
The news organizations immediately rushed for the Hillary meme they love best--"cold, calculating", as the Today Show characterized many criticisms against her, implying the 'bitch' label that is as closely associated with her as 'clueless' is with Boy George. And sure enough, quickly following was the companion conclusion: "unelectable".
Well, on this count, the experts may have gotten the answer right, but predictably for exactly the wrong reasons.
The pundits believe there are enough Hillary-haters on the right wing to prevent her from ever winning a national election. But I believe the ultimate danger for her simmers at the other end of the spectrum. That's where liberals like me remain waiting for the explanation for her vote authorizing Bush to go to war--if he so desired.
Today, there are only three options left for her. First, she could say, "it was the right vote then and it's the right vote now." She tried that for a while, but 70% of the people whose votes she covets have declared that response null and void.
Second, she could say, "he fooled me! How was I supposed to know there were no weapons or nuke warheads or terrorists living in Saddam's basement?" Well, being married to the previous President might have given her some special insight, but even if she had been practicing law back in Park Ridge, how comforting is it to hear a prospective future President admitting she was outfoxed by the likes of George W. Bush?
The final answer...and the only one that passes the b.s. test...is that she voted the way she did for political reasons. It was the 'smart' vote...the one that coincided with the emotions of a post-9/11 nation...the one that seemed the best bet to keep her Presidential credentials in order.
But guess what. She was wrong. Especially in the minds of the millions of Americans who knew the war was a future tragedy from the moment its PR plans began to surface even before W. was (almost) elected.
The cold fact of the matter is that the blood of more than three thousand dead Americans will forever remain on the hands of George Bush. But unless she can magically erase the memories of would-be supporters who still resent her fatal miscalculation, the stain will also remain evident Hillary's ambitions.

diderot