How will Hillary differ from Bill?

[Dazey]

With the benefit of hindsight, we see Bill Clinton now as a moderate President, an Eisenhower of the '90s, who attempted to triangulate a "Third Way" for politics, combining populist rhetoric, with concessions to the left and concessions to the right. We see a guy who operated more as a micromanaging CEO rather than as a grand head of state, an efficient administrator who was transparent in his moral failings. We see in Bill Clinton both a fighter (IE the '95 and '96 shutdowns) and an appeaser (IE Welfare reform, DOMA) compared to the generally neutral, compromising ways of the current President. Personality wise, we see a warm figure on the world stage, a good old boy who knew you knew he was lying, and you knew it was a sham, but he was just too charismatic, too likable, too one of us, to hold it against him.

But the question is, if elected President, how will Hillary differ? Both in policy; in the way she handles the Presidency, and in her persona as President. Do we see a return to the Centrist '90s, that DLC Democrat style of governance? Do we see simply a continuation of Obama's way? Do we perhaps see a slight left turn? A slight right? And how does she come off as President - aloof in the way Obama is but not cold? Or both cold and aloof and rigid in the way a female Richard Nixon might be? Does she have grand visions for the country ala Reagan or LBJ, or will she act as an effective administrator of small ideas the way her husband did? Will she compromise with the Tea Party as Obama has, or seek to outdo the right at their own game, as her husband did, or take battle to them the way Nixon took battle to the new left in the early '70s?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A HARD turn to the left.

[Sir Mohamed]

A HARD turn to the left.

Hillary is less left than Obama.

[Samantha]

Bill Clinton was a dealmaker, something Hillary is almost certainly not.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Bill Clinton was a dealmaker, something Hillary is almost certainly not.

Dealmaking with Senate; regardless of which party control it, like Obama has done with trade and lifting debt ceiling.

[Blair]

Well she's not going to run as a new democrat, or govern as one. Anyone saying that quite frankly doesn't understand the democrat party. Clinton both being a southern governor, and competing in the 1980/1990's means that he was going to be more right wing-just like Blair and Labour were here in 1997.

She appears to be making good noises about campaign finance-if she could get a constitutional amendment or some sort of new legislation passed to at least limit 501 or 527 groups then that would be a major issue. Maybe introduce a bit more healthcare reform to add onto Obamacare. All depends on how much of the Senate she can coattail in 2016.

But yeah she'll just continue with Obama, albeit being more aggressive and rigid abroad (I can't see Hillary approving opening relations with Cuba)

[King]

It's easy to look back 20 years later at Bill Clinton's White House and say "this was a mistake;" "he shouldn't have trusted this person;" "he shouldn't have appeased those people." He didn't know.

That is what will differentiate Hillary from Bill. Bill left office with 8 years experience in Washingotn--when he left office. Hillary will enter office with 24+ years experience in Washington. She knows a true ally from a Beltway charlatan.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

A HARD turn to the left.

Comrade, what is this? Hillary is only 55% left, 45% right.

Compared to Bill, that is a hard turn to the left.

[Gallium]

But yeah she'll just continue with Obama, albeit being more aggressive and rigid abroad (I can't see Hillary approving opening relations with Cuba)

She actually urged Obama to reconsider and lift the embargo when she was SoS.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

She's not going to pretend to be a "moderate".  She'll be a McCain/Romney of the left, a liberal, if not a "movement Progressive".

The difference will be more in terms of style.  She's not going to be likable, but she may well prove to be more well-respected, and she's an insider, so her ability to compromise on important things may wall be greater than Obama's.  She is grudgingly respected by Republicans, so it may well be the case that the GOP will drop some of the intransigent opposition it has afforded Obama to where Government shutdowns are off the table. 

Hillary will have some credibility with working class whites who are still marginally Democrats, but who can't abide Obama, so she may be able to reverse some of the losses to the Democratic base that has been a result of Obama's persona (being black) and policies (particularly on coal and energy).  West Virginia and Kentucky will be tests as to whether or not she is able to restore some of the base in coal country that Obama has absolutely gutted.  I tend to think that she'll do better than Obama here, but the damage has been done. 

I do think that Hillary will be more willing to fire subordinates than Bill Clinton (or Bush 43 or Obama).  There's not the kind of personal loyalty in Hillary that there is in these others, and perhaps that's a good thing.  Hillary would have had Kathleen Sebelius as the fall girl for the Obamacare Rollout from Day One of the malfunction.  -

[Ogre Mage]

Bill Clinton was an ardent free-trader.  While it would be wrong to say Hillary is protectionist, her past record on the issue is mixed.  Most likely she would be open to persuasion from both sides.

Her recent stances on police/criminal justice reform and same-sex marriage are a far cry from Bill Clinton's presidency and issues where certain parts of the base will like her much better.

Bill Clinton (and Obama) were poor at enforcing discipline when Democrats in Congress voted against something of key importance to the White House.  There were no consequences.  In a Hillary White House I believe there would be consequences.  She also has absolutely no hesitation to cut down political enemies.

She has an iron will and an ability to determinedly push forward when the going gets tough.  Bill tended to get unfocused and discouraged in the face of adversity.

She lacks Bill's flexibility and ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances.  There were several reasons why Hillarycare flopped in 1994 and this was one of them.

[NewYorkExpress]

She won't be having oral sex with male interns...unlike Bill and Monica.

[Mr. Morden]

She won't be having oral sex with male interns...unlike Bill and Monica.

Bill and Monica were having oral sex with male interns?

[bobloblaw]

He loves sex, she loves money

[bobloblaw]

A HARD turn to the left.

Hillary is less left than Obama.

On immigration Hillary is going left of Obama. Affirmative Action too.

This is why Ill bet Hillary doesnt do any better among whites than Obama did

[dudeabides]

Hillary Clinton is undisciplined, unable to deal with the media, she does not come across as in touch with people not in the political class, she is not good on the stump, and she is polarizing. Bill was just the opposite.

The other big difference is unlike Bill, Hillary is going to lose to a Bush in a general election.

[NewYorkExpress]

She won't be having oral sex with male interns...unlike Bill and Monica.

Bill and Monica were having oral sex with male interns?

Eh, I could have worded that better... Bill and Monica were supposed to be the example of what she won't do.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Bill Clinton was an ardent free-trader.  While it would be wrong to say Hillary is protectionist, her past record on the issue is mixed.  Most likely she would be open to persuasion from both sides.

Her recent stances on police/criminal justice reform and same-sex marriage are a far cry from Bill Clinton's presidency and issues where certain parts of the base will like her much better.

Bill Clinton (and Obama) were poor at enforcing discipline when Democrats in Congress voted against something of key importance to the White House.  There were no consequences.  In a Hillary White House I believe there would be consequences.  She also has absolutely no hesitation to cut down political enemies.

She has an iron will and an ability to determinedly push forward when the going gets tough.  Bill tended to get unfocused and discouraged in the face of adversity.

She lacks Bill's flexibility and ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances.  There were several reasons why Hillarycare flopped in 1994 and this was one of them.

Obama's Democratic Party was much more closely unified.  Bill Clinton's Democratic Party still had a number of moderates from the South and Border States whose support he needed in terms of endorsing his re-election, but whom saw the need to distance themselves from some mainstream Democratic positions.  Bill Clinton understood this; his main goal was to ensure that other Democrats not oppose him volubly.