Clinton Senate Terms Marked by Few Legislative Achievements, Few Gaffes
WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in the Senate before she had even surrendered the title of first lady.
An anything-but-typical freshman, she surprised skeptics with how well she fit in to a chamber where reputations are usually built over decades.
She didn’t big-foot colleagues. A junior senator in the minority party, she put her head down and went to work.
She sought out the longest-serving senator in history, West Virginia’s Robert Byrd, to receive a tutorial on the art of legislating, even though he had been an outspoken critic of her husband during the impeachment debate.
She waited her turn to speak, and when she did talk, it was clear she had done her homework.
By most accounts she was seen as a serious legislator who tended to her state’s interests. She was re-elected in 2006 in a cakewalk.
But there is no blockbuster legislation with her name on it. No soaring oratory still rings in the ears.
Some campaign promises went unfulfilled, notably her promise to create 200,000 jobs in upstate New York.
Her vote to authorize the Iraq war and other moves toward the center caused liberals to grouse that she had betrayed her roots.
And the skills that make for a successful junior senator are not necessarily those that shout presidential leadership.
Citing the “cumbersome” rules under which the Senate operates, Clinton told an Associated Press reporter last year, “I’m somebody who just gets up every day and tries to push that decision a little bit further every day.”
For all her hard work, she brought baggage to the Senate that could not be shed.
Clinton points to her role in putting together $20 billion in aid for New York after the Sept. 11 attacks as one of her greatest Senate achievements.
Hillary never plays by the rules. Hillary cannot tell the truth and the Clinton machine with all its favors owed can’t persuade Americans to vote for her. Let us see what she comes up with next.
I keep posting my comments, but they are not on the board. Anyway else having problems if you are not a Hillary supporter?
If the Clintons are such public minded people why are they still in this race? I think that Hillary would rather see a republican win than be defeated by a fellow democratic. She can’t possible win this race. Is she hoping to take the nomination away from Obama who has more states, more delegates, and more popular vote? This would surely split the party and could possible destroy it. If that happens I know I would never vote for her. They are people with only their own agenda..To heck with popular vote. To heck with more states. To heck with more delegates. The votes in Michigan and Florida were not supposed to count because they moved up their elections, all the canidates understood this. Many people didn’t bother to vote. Why should they if their vote wasn’t going to count? Now since Hillary is losing, she wants a do-over. We had do-overs as kids when we played games and didn’t win….If Hillary has any class she will withdraw so Obama can concentrate on winning the national election.
Yes, again we see that Hillary made comments about her past history making executive decisions and ability to step in the role as president based on her past years as the White House first lady. I am sure that most educated people knew again she was talking out of both sides of her month. She voted for the war along with Bush. Her judgement is in question. She tried for 10 years to get health reform and was was unable to do it. She cmpagained for NAFTA saying it was good for the American people and then in Ohio and Pa said she was against it. She agreed to the DNC rules regarding the primaries and then calls foul when Mi. and Fla violated the rules. Lie, lie, lie. She stood by her husband for political reasons on her part. Do white American women want a woman so badly that they will put the 2nd half of the Clinton machine in office?
I think all you media boys better look again. The record is clear for Clinton, however you’ve never looked at the golden boys record (BO). Hillary is an exemplary leader and all you good ole’ boys are jealous and envious of her. Get your damn egos out of the way and think about this country. Can’t stand it when your out shined can you? Brilliant women threaten the good ole boys. Shame on you all!!!
What about obama? good judgment on Iraq whom he ddnt even vote? Always “present”? GO HILARY!!!
Am still waiting to see her concrete achievement over her 35 years in the public service.Failed healthcare reform,greatest foreign policy disaster(iraq war vote) and an unnoticed member of the senate!
“Clinton points to her role in putting together $20 billion in aid for New York after the Sept. 11 attacks as one of her greatest Senate achievements.” Bringing aid to New York City after the devastation caused by the September 11 attacks was no small legislative achievement!
CLINTON-SUPPORTERS: SO MUCH FOR HILLARY’S EXPERIENCE — SHE HAS NONE!
IS ANYONE KEEPING TRACK OF HER LIES? SHE LIED ABOUTH NAFTA, SHE LIED ABOUT HER FOREIGN EXPERIENCE, SHE LIED ABOUT HER DOMESTIC EXPERIENCE, SHE LIED ABOUT BEING READY ON DAY ONE, SHE LIED ABOUT THE VOTERS IN FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN, ETC.
THIS WOMAN HAS NO CHARACTER AND NO INTEGRITY — WHY SHOULD ANYONE SUPPORT HER?
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT ALL — WE HAVE ANOTHER GEORGE BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VOTE OBAMA
That is a nice portrait of senator Clinton. The headline is promising more than is delivered in the article, but showing her as a workhorse that will work the nightshift and will be down-to-earth without glitter and grand speeches.
After 8 years of lazy vacation president Bush II and even after the 8 laidback years of her husband, a hard worker would be a nice change of pace.
What I especially like is the following quote:
“She sought out the longest-serving senator in history, West Virginia’s Robert Byrd, to receive a tutorial on the art of legislating, even though he had been an outspoken critic of her husband during the impeachment debate.”
Some people will say that she does anything to get ahead, I say she is an honest worker who is prepared to go the distance. I admire a person that is prepared to learn to walk before he/she starts to run. Look up the article in the NY Times about Senator Obama’s days in the US Senate for a contrast…