The Trouble With Hillary

Appearing at Tufts University, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D.-N.Y.) gave a speech on how moral values have less to do with abortion and homosexuality than they do with left-wing economic policies. "No one can read the New Testament of our Bible without recognizing that Jesus had a lot more to say about how we treat the poor than most of the issues that were talked about in this election," she said.

au1929 wrote:

She may be too intelligent for the American electorate. They apparently can only identify with someone who has the level of intelligence of a Bush.

PS. She would get my vote.

Speaking of surprises...

What has Hillary done exactly that would make you inclined to elect her president of the US?

Was it her money laundering in the cattle futures market?

Was it her role in the White House travel office firings, which led to the false prosecution of the office's head?

Was it her deceptive testimony to a House investigating committee in which she said "I don't recall" or its equivalent 50 times in a 42 paragraph statement.

Was it her still undetermined role in the Castle Grande land scam in which she was billing partner to Webster Hubbell who has plead guilty in the case.

Was it her role in the obtaining and misuse of some 900 FBI personal files on key Republicans, as dirty a political act as any carried out by Richard Nixon?

1. What accomplishments as a Jr. Senator warrent any consideration for re-election to that office, never mind President.

woiyo wrote:

1. What accomplishments as a Jr. Senator warrent any consideration for re-election to that office, never mind President.

I'd have to guess: A lot more than Dubya had at the same point in their political careers.

I used to be a Hillary hater. Her obvious arrogance when she and he assumed power in 93 was striking, and there are some things that wives should not stand for, most of which Bill has done. However, I think that she is thoughtful and intelligent, and has matured from the take it or leave it lib she was 10 years ago.

I might be as conservative as any on this forum, but I do think that eventually the long term problems of energy supplies, poverty, and health care will be seen as important as terrorism. We are the richest country on the planet, and should be able to solve those problems. The first step will be acknowledging them, and I don't think the Republican party will be up to that. I think Hillary can do it, and I might vote for her.

Duplicitous and without morals covers most politicians. They may still be capable of statesmanship and critical thinking.

As far as Hillary haters go, if there are more of them than there are mouth foaming Bush haters, I would be surprised, and he is President, again.

It's not the yuppies having 3 or 4 kids. Check your research to see where the population expansion is coming from...

While I agree that Arkansas is a back water state, Texas doesn't quite qualify as such. Executive experience is vital to the job of President. That's why Gov's are lected as president more often than Sen. or Con.

In Texas, however, the Lieutenant Governor is more powerful than the Governor. Bush's "executive" experience was very limited before he was elected.

You're just going to confuse the Bush fans here with that kind of info, DrewDad. They like to think of him as having had strong experience in an executive capacity...

Duties and Powers of the Lieutenant Governor
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst addresses the Senate.

The Lieutenant Governor in Texas is unique in that he is part of both the Executive and Legislative branches.

As in most states, the Lieutenant Governor in Texas assumes the powers and duties of the Governor when the Governor is unable to serve or is absent from the state. But in Texas, the Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor, and each can be members of different political parties.

The Texas Constitution names the Lieutenant Governor the Constitutional President of the Senate, but the Constitution also gives the Senate the authority to write its own rules. That's where the Lieutenant Governor derives most of his power.

These rules, adopted by a majority of Senators at the beginning of each Legislative Session, set down in great detail how business is conducted in the Senate.

Senate rules give the current Lieutenant Governor a great deal of influence in shaping state policy and influencing laws that may eventually be passed by the Senate.

The rules allow the present Lieutenant Governor to decide all parliamentary questions and use his discretion in following Senate procedural rules. He can set up standing and special committees and appoint committee chairpersons and individual members.

The order in which bills are considered is also set by the Lieutenant Governor under Senate rules.

Another important source of power is the Lieutenant Governor's leadership role in the Senate. His leadership abilities and the faith and confidence he inspires in the Senators will determine how he is treated when the Senate writes its rules.

The Texas Constitution gives the Lieutenant Governor the right to debate and vote on all issues when the Senate sits as a Committee of the Whole. And his Constitutional role as President of the Senate also gives the Lieutenant Governor the right to cast the deciding vote in the case of a Senate tie.

Like the Speaker of the House, the Lieutenant Governor is required to sign all bills and resolutions. The Constitution also names him to the five-member Legislative Redistricting Board which apportions the state into senatorial and representative districts in the event the Legislature is unable to do so.

These powers are fundamental since the Constitution can be changed only by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, followed by the approval of a majority vote of the people at a statewide election.

The Lieutenant Governor derives other powers and responsibilities from state statute. By statute, the Lieutenant Governor is a member of several Legislative branch boards and committees: the Legislative Budget Board , the Legislative Council, the Legislative Audit Committee and the Legislative Education Board. He is designated as Chair of the Legislative Budget Board and Legislative Council, which have considerable sway over state programs, the budget and policy.

The Legislative Budget Board, for example, provides the Legislature with a recommended budget at the beginning of every session. In many other states, this is done only in the executive branch. The authority of the Legislative Budget Board is broad, and its influence on spending is significant. By his Chairship and his power to make appointments to the Board, the Lieutenant Governor exerts a powerful influence on public policy.

The Lieutenant Governor is also a member of two Executive branch boards created by statute, the Cash Management Committee and the Bond Review Board.