Democrat Party Debate in Iowa

My intent is to offer information about the anticipated election of 2016. The focus here is Hillary Clinton and the issues raised by her candidacy. I will stay away from fiercely partisan writers and focus upon analyses that will be as objective as possible. I do so as one who changed from Democrat to political conservative in my mid-20s (1970s), due to the influence of William Buckley, George Will, and Milton Friedman.

The removal of Joe Biden from consideration closes the door on any drama in the nomination process. Hillary will be the nominee.

The first debate has happened. Cal Thomas offers his reflections.Laura Hollis takes the approach of sharing questions "they" refuse to ask of Democrats. I would offer that the debate reflects precisely what moved me away from the Democrat Party. The fact that a socialist touting northern European style socialism, which the Scandanavians are pulling back from, is enough for me. On the national security front, the fact that a Bernie can identify climate change rather an the rise of Islamic fundamentialism, Russia, or China is amazing. The attacks on the "one percent," who are the true "forgotten person" in the economy, seems like an appeal to envy. Most of all, the appeal to give Americans free stuff is very dangerous. Nothing is free. If something is free to you, it has come at the expense of someone else. If that is OK with you, we have a moral and character problem. In any case, using the government to make our neighbors provide us free stuff is a form of governance with which I want nothing to do.

Michael Barone offers an interesting analysis of the death of the center-left dimension of the Democrat Party. He uses an analogy with England. Jeff Greenfield offers an analysis of the effect of Obama on the Democrat Party nationally. It is not good. Dana Bilbank refers to the death of the blue dog Democrat as revealed in the House in November 2015. David Shribman describes surprises in the campaign as of June 2015.

Charles Krauthammer offers a betting analysis of the election, giving Hillary and Marco 3-1 odds to win respective nominations and 55-45 for the Republicans in the general. Thomas Sowell offers analysis of the election, as of August 2015.

Thomas Sowell offers his account of how the Left is fact free, using some recent issues. In another article with the same theme, he focuses on the help the Left wants to give to those who need it, and the harm they end up doing. Larry Elder also provides statistics that suggest that African-Americans are worse off since Obama became president.

One of the issues will be President Obama and his economic policies. Stephen Moore thinks he has dived the nation along class lines. In this article, he writes about the myths about poverty with which Obama seems to live.

Iraq remains an issue. Robert Gates explained how Iraq went from strength to dangerous weakness. Catherine Herridge explains that the prediction of the rise of ISIS and its apparent ignoring by the administration. The rise of ISIS has and the approach to Syria has led to a refugee crisis in Europe as of September 2015. Jonah Goldberg discusses some of the dynamics of this. Jonah Goldberg offers critique of Obama on handling ISIS. Wesley Pruden thinks that when things get tough with ISIS, Obama changes the subject to immigration of Syrian refugees. Rich Lowry reminds us why there are so many refugees, laying it at the feet of Obama. Michael Barone explains that while ISIS attacks, Obama gets angry at Americans who disagree with him. Mona Charen discusses the mistakes of Obama that have led to Syrian refugees.

Iran is an issue. Rachel Marsden reflects upon the importance of a pathway to economic security. Ben Shapiro compares the deal with Iran to Neville Chamberlin, but adds that one could argue that Chamberlin loved his country. While this idea is challenging, the point here is that Obama wants an enemy to become a regional power. Ken Blackwell argues that the proposed Iran deal is worse than what Chamberlin did and he refers to the speech by Winston Churchill in opposition. David Horovitz offers 16 reasons the Iran deal is a victory for Iran and a catastrophe for the West. Peter Morici discusses the economic advantages Iran will receive with the negotiated deal, making it an economic powerhouse in the region. Charles Krauthammer discusses the nuclear deal and is not favorable.

With the decision of the Supreme Court in June 2015, Obamacare will be an issue. Elizabeth Slattery thinks the judges acted like lawmakers rather than judges. S. E. Cupp says this was a gift to the Republican Party. David Harsanyi thinks the Court turned its back on the rule of law. George Will discusses what he thinks is the real problem with the decision.

Hillary Clinton
One of the serious issues raised by the long public history of Hillary is her character.

I like the questions that Michael Barone thinks Hillary needs to be asked.

First, should the Bill Clinton scandals regarding women influence the Hillary campaign? In my view, the answer is affirmative. She personally destroyed women who were on the receiving end of sexual advances from Bill Clinton. These women were not her political enemies. They were victims of the sexual predator she had as a husband. She acted to protect his political career. This was important to her because she valued her political career. She willingly destroyed the lives of several women for these reasons. Camille Paglia discusses how the Bill Cosby rape allegations could negatively affect the campaign of Hillary. Her point is that young women will not take kindly to the way Hillary attacked other women who experienced the sexual advances of her husband. Suzanne Fields explores this matter as well, under the theme that young millennial women will not like what they hear about Hillary and her role in covering for Bill. Victor Davis Hanson says that when she condemns other people, she condemns herself.

Second, the matter of Benghazi has a strong character element. The context here is that she did not reinforce the embassy because of the Obama campaign meme that al qada is on the run. However, the character issue is that after the attack and the killings, she told the grieving families it was the result of a video when she knew, according to released emails, that it was the result of a planned attack. For me, someone who can lie to grieving persons like that has a profound character issue. Again, she did this to support the false campaign theme of Obama. I invite you to reflect upon the issues involved here. Stephen Hayes described a day that showed private emails and Benghazi revelations, making it a bad day for her. Yet, will it matter? The email scandal was prominent. Guy Benson explains some of the elements of this complicated story. Ron Fournier explains why he does not believe Hillary. He is a liberal. John Podhoretz outlines issues related to Benghazi, email controversy, and steady release of State Department emails. Byron York explores the matter, wondering whether Hillary or the State Department is lying. Byron York is on the case again, analyzing another document released by her campaign regarding this matter. Eugene Robinson says Hillary is self-destructive, has no respect for "us," and has no respect for truth. He wishes she would apologize and get out of the race. Judge Andrew Napolitano analyzes the legal trouble in which he thinks Hillary finds herself. He also offers some questions that the committee could could ask. John R. Schindler, a national security expert, reviews why this controversy is so important. Jonah Goldberg writes simply of the email scandal. John Solomon offers a factual account of the issues involved in Benghazi. Debra J. Saunders offers her analysis of the Benghazi hearing. Thomas Sowell discusses the media covering for Hillary. He also writes of the attempt to re-make Hillary. Judicial Watch points to a set of emails released in November in which Huma says Hillary is "often confused."

Third, the corruption surrounding the Clinton foundation is an issue. In early 2015, one of the stories about Hillary Clinton involved the Clinton foundation. The basic story involved the Clintons becoming wealthy after their departure from the White House, from which they famously emerged as "in debt" and "broke." They quickly became wealthy through the speeches they made. Their foundation gained much in wealth, while giving 15% of its income to charities and the rest to "other." Jo Becker and Mike McIntire wrote the New York Times article. Rosalind S. Helderman wrote the Washington Post article. Linda Chavez explained the issues involved in a brief piece. John Stossel suggests that Hillary has a natural protection against suffering any consequences from her questionable actions. Jonah Goldberg notes that Hillary lies, even when it came to an interview she finally had, claiming she has not received a subpoena.

I realize that many people are devoted progressives, liberals, and Democrats. However, I invite you to consider the character of this woman. Read M. Scott Peck, "People of the Lie."

Now, as much as I believe Hillary has a strong moral and character issue that disqualifies her from the presidency, I also have a strong disagreement with policy. In fact, my suspicion is the persuadable people in this election are persuadable only on the basis of policy. Charles Krauthammer includes some of these matters in a broader discussion of the investigations conducted by the House. In essence, they do not work. My contention is that they cannot work, due to the bond that exists between the Press, the progressive agenda, the Democrat Party, and the Clintons. Further, for these groups, conservatives are more of an enemy than is radical Islam. I am not convinced, in other words, that one could discover anything in the area of corruption and morality that would shake the bond, because the over-riding issue or the Left is their agenda. As long as someone advances the political agenda, their character does not matter.

One campaign theme will be the war on women. The theme of the "war on women" has taken an interesting turn. In August 2015, she compared Republican opposition to Planned Parenthood to terrorists. Carly Fiorina responded. So did Mark Halperin. She does not pay women on her own staff as much as men. The Clinton Foundation has received millions of dollars from Islamic states that oppress women. Further, terrorists are beheading people for their ideas, while Planned Parenthood is crushing the heads of babies in order to sell baby parts. Stephen Moore re-directs this issue to the Obama years and how difficult it has been for working women.

Jonah Goldberg wonders if actual accomplishments will be downfall of Hillary.


David Harsanyi wonders when Hillary will be held accountable for her vote on Iraq.

Hillary was Secretary of State. Herb London offers a relatively reasoned assessment of her years there. Jennifer Rubin discusses the failure of the policy regarding Libya.

Hillary has flip-flopped or evolved on her view of illegal immigration, according to Matt Vespa.

Hillary offered a major economic speech. Although I did not listen, even sympathetic listeners said it was tired and uninspiring. Donald Lambro analyzes her economic recommendations and finds them lacking. Cal Thomas also looks at the speech and considered it boring, as well as tired and expected rhetoric. Michael Barone, who thinks she is likely to be the next President, examines this speech as a throwback to the year of her birth, 1948, when government was the solution to every problem. Robert J. Samuelson analyzes her proposal for encouraging profit-sharing. Fred Barnes considers her economic plan as a way to shrink the economy further.

Hillary seemed to get in demagoguery when she accused Republicans of wanting to keep people from voting. In supporting a lawsuit against Ohio, for example, she failed to note that New York has only one day to vote, while Ohio has a month to vote. Bill Murchison discusses this matter. Mona Charen calls it the "They hate you" strategy.

Planned Parenthood is selling the body parts of the fetuses they abort. S. A. Miller describes the vigorous defense of the organization against attacks, putting to rest the hope that some people had that those on the opposite side of the abortion question could unite in opposition to this practice. Joy Overbeck ponders the founder of the organization, Margaret Sanger, and the praise Hillary placed upon her.

To conclude, one of the issues is that Hillary is the only realistic candidate. She may have a bad day, or even a bad week. However, given this context, what would that mean? She will not be denied the nomination. When it comes to the election, she will have a set number of Democrat votes, no matter what. For me personally, I confess to boredom with the Clintons. In July 2015, a poll showed a weakened position for Hillary in some key states. In another poll in August 2015, people were asked what word comes to their minds when they think of Hillary. The top three were liar, dishonest, and untrustworthy. My personal view is that the only way such evidence "matters" is if they matter to the major news outlets and they take out after Hillary (they will not) or if members of the Democrat Party turn their backs on her (they will not). This confirms an early observation that a "bad" day for Hillary is relative. It will not detract from her inevitable march toward the nomination. The only possible derailment of this train is Obama and the Justice Department. If they bring actual criminal charges against her, all bets are off.

Jack Shaffer explains that the way Hillary is running her campaign suggests that she thinks of herself as running as the President, rather than running for President. Michael Barone wonders if Hillary will be able to reverse a six-year decline in turnout for Democrats. Rich Galen thinks Hillary is losing ground to herself. Fred Barnes points to the already closing gap between top Republicans and Hillary and her inability to raise big money as signs that many Democrats are in a panic. Carl Rove compares the message of President Clinton and the message of Hillary, and finds the latter wanting. Thomas Sowell examines her record, and finds its failures not balanced by successes. George Will has some serious questions that he thinks Hillary ought to answer. Jonah Goldberg examines her flip-flop on the Trans-Pacific Trade deal and a few other such alterations of policy positions, suggesting that one cannot trust any position she has.

The Democrat Party could save itself a lot of money by cancelling further debates and primaries and have a coronation of Hillary.

Martin O'Malley
Cal Thomas thinks this candidate is positioning himself to be the go to candidate if Hillary falters. Olivia Niuzzi of The Daily Beast seems to go a similar direction, but describing the kickoff of the campaign as embarrassing.

Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders is an opponent of Hillary from the Left. Donald Lambro discusses his notion of redistribution and socialism in Sanders. Emmett Tyrrell argues that he will have the historical role of one who is a spoiler, something like Eugene McCarthy. He also offers Jerry Brown and Michael Bloomberg as alternatives to Hillary. Katie Pavlich writes of the essay Bernie Sanders wrote in the 1970s about the sexual fantasies of men and women, the latter fantasizing about gang rape. David Harsanyi says that Bernie Sanders, as a socialist, represents the direction the Democrat Party has been moving. Mark Halpern has an insightful way of reflecting on how Bernie could win. Larry Elders discusses the inability of the head of the Democrat Party to distinguish between a Democrat and a socialist. He things that there is no difference. In August 2015, Jonah Goldberg describes the problems this life-long socialist presents to the Democrat Party. In September 2015, Nate Silver says we should not compare Sanders and Trump.

Lincoln Chafee
Arthur Schaper discusses the deeply flawed beginning of this campaign.

Jim Webb
Bill Schneider thinks that he represents the fatal flaw in the Hillary campaign.

Joe Biden
Bill Schneider ponders this possibility and thinks that Hillary would be in the stronger position to win the election, but that Joe could win the nomination. Bob Tyrrell encourages him to run for office, and lays out solid reasons for doing so.

Elizabeth Warren has been discussed consistently. David Harsanyi argues that her opposition to free trade and her success in opposing President Obama in the Senate means she now runs the Senate democrats.