In general, I'm very pessimistic about the chances of any Republican nominee winning the presidency in '08 and have almost come to accept the fact that Hillary will be our next CIC. But then there are days when I think JB may be right about her being unelectable after all.
Thursday night, I caught part of a Hillary campaign appearance in New Hampshire on C-SPAN. I can't recall ever seeing a politician who comes across as obviously insincere as she does. She has this Nixonion quality of not being comfortable in her own skin in public and not being able to hide it. It's really quite unsettling to watch.
Every politician has to do things they don't like to. The public appearances, repetitive speech giving, glad-handing, etc. can test the patience of the best of them. But I think that most of the them actually enjoy it at some level. Bill Clinton was a master at working a crowd and he fed off their adoration and attention. For all his public speaking foibles, Bush actually came across as very relaxed and engaged on the campaign trail. People who have met in small groups say that he's also quite good in those settings.
It's not a requirement that our presidents actually like people--although it certainly helps get votes--but you at least have to give the impression that you do. I think that deep down Hillary hates people. She hates having to pander to them, having to pretend she cares, or that she really wants to hear their opinion. If you watch her carefully, I think she can see this loathing just under the surface. It really makes you wonder what motivates her to go through something that's so obviously difficult and painful for her. It's disconcerting to imagine someone who wants power that badly.
Maybe most Americans won't notice or just don't care. But I have a hope (however slim) that voters will go with their gut feel and decide that that gal just ain't right for the job.
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