What if Clinton became an Independent Democrat?

I see a whole lot of parallels happening. Parallels with the primaries that lead Senator Joe Lieberman to leave the Democratic party and become an Independent Democrat.

U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut served as a Democrat but was defeated for the Democratic nomination in the 2006 primary by the businessman Ned Lamont by a 52%-48% margin. Lieberman decided to run as a third party candidate in the general election and won under the self-created Connecticut for Lieberman party, defeating Lamont – the official Democratic candidate – and the Republican candidate with 49 percent of the vote.

en.wikipedia.org...

The more I think about it, the more it appears to be the best idea. It would show we still have some democratic principles left in this country.

We have already had two real bizarre presidential elections and now were seeing the Democratic primaries mirror the weirdness of those last two presidential elections. While Clinton clearly has the Popular vote in the Democratic Party, the DNC is ignoring that and the primaries in Florida and Michigan. Suddenly the delegates are starting to seem reminiscient of the Electorate and the DNC is reminding me of the Supreme Court. Florida is well being Florida.

Basically its a bunch of insanity all over again. You would think after what happened with Al Gore the DNC would have more sense.

Come May 31st if the DNC can't adhere to the principles of Democracy, like the idea of the Popular Vote, well I think in the best interest of the nation, Senator Hillary Clinton should leave the Democratic Party. I think if she maintains the support of the working class majority that makes up this nation, she will have a chance at winning the presidency and forming the first real viable new political party. Much of that working class majority has been galvanized by remarks by Wright and Michelle Obama. They simply will not vote for Obama who appears in their eyes as a closet racist.

At the same time McCain is still lacking the support of the far religious right conservatives. Most likely like James Dobson they will sit this election out.

What this means is she would become just like Joe Lieberman, who beat both the Democrat and Republican candidates for his Senate seat. I think she can do the same with the Presidency.

IMO the issue of the popular vote aside if Hillary ran as an independent she would risk the splitting the democratic vote and gifting the Republican party four more years of rule . If that happened democrat supporters would never forgive her and her presidential aspirations would be dead for sure .

reply to post by xpert11


If someone else other than McCain was running I would agree, but there are many Republicans who would rather vote for her than vote for him.

The Conservative base of the Republican party just doesn't really like McCain and the only way he may get their vote is if the election is between just Obama and McCain. They would rather hold their nose and vote for him instead of Obama being elected.

If the race was between Clinton and McCain, many in the Conservative base would sit out this election.

Thats why I think she would be a viable Third Candidate. If she keeps her current support she would get a majority vote out of the three in a presidential election.

Why in [any gods name] would you want ANY of these 'people' in office? You are obviously one of the 'problem' voters in this country. And your problem seems to be only voting for Democrats or Republicans. Hell... you don't even suggest her to run as an "Independant," but rather an "Independant Democrat."

I haven't voted for one in over 10 years, if it could be avoided. I suggest EVERYONE else do the same this Nov. and in every subsequent election until we THROW ALL THE BUMS OUT!!

[edit on 5/22/2008 by RabbitChaser]

MikeboydUS it is always nice to get a differnt perspective on the coming US election . Myself I would have said that Clinton would bring out the Republican base to the polls because of the stigma attached to the Clinton name . Anyway it looks like we will have to agree to disagree on this particular matter . Your input would be most welcome on this thread .

Hillary profile and the close democratic race would be what would cause the split in the left wing vote . Unlike the nobody's who will or would attract very few votes Hillary would gain insufficient votes to win the election but enough to gift victory to the Republicans .

Well that is my take on the situation anyway .

reply to post by RabbitChaser



I'm not really sure if I want any of them in office, but someone out of the three is going to end up there. I dont want Obama there. I am sick of the Democratic Party. I dont really like Hillary but the way the DNC and the media is treating her is insane. The Democrats are no longer the party of the Working Class. They are a party of eggheads and special interest groups.

I can't stand the Republican party much either who follow a strange religion I call Americanism. Take evangelical Christianity, corporate plutocracy, and combine with a good dose of blind "Patriotism" and you have Americanism. The way Ron Paul was disrespected and the way people have just shred the Constitution drives me crazy.

We are at a Threshold.

What happens in the coming election will determine our fate as a nation. If the political process continues to be subverted and corrupted by both parties, America will become more and more like some corrupt banana republic.

Well I dont want America turning into a Banana Republic.

The Constitutionalists and the Working Class need to come together to do what we can to preserve what we have left and seek reform. Not voting is the worse thing one can do. How do you think we got into this mess?

If we dont do something, well be saying hello to the United States of Absurdistan in the very near future.

reply to post by MikeboydUS


Well... as I said... the problems are D and R politicians. The lifetime, year after year, politicians. The corrupt politicians (though, that is a bit redundant). Hillary running Independant and winning would change absolutely nothing. She's the same as McCain, whether you can see that or not... and ol' Billy-boy is an adopted son of the prior Bush... you really think this 'connection' wouldn't carry into the policies of another Clinton White House?

If I implied I haven't voted... on the contrary... I have voted at every opportunity over the last 10-15 years... BUT I don't vote for anyone from the Republican nor Democratic parties. Those are the truly wasted votes. And so many of you go to the polls year after year... with a blind eye to every other party available to choose from... yes... if you look, they are there. But our MSM brainwashed voters only see two.

The solution? (While there is still a remote chance that all elections aren't fixed...) The "Kick Them All Out" Project. Find your state... print your list... and complete the mission in November for every possible one who is teed up for the "boot" this year.

It's very simple, in my mind... you vote for anyone who is NOT a D or R in every race you vote. From President right down to Dog-catcher.

If there is no other option, then don't vote for the incumbant.

Hell... put a bunch of third-graders in every seat. They couldn't mess things up more than these politicians have.

Actually I have brought this up in other threads about her... With $31 million in the hole I seriously doubt that she could manage an independent run... that doesn't mean that she couldn't threaten to do so at the convention to try and swing the delegates her way out of fear.

reply to post by MikeboydUS


I find it really curious how Hillary was more than happy to support the decisions of both Florida and Michigan to move their primary dates up in the process. She, along with Obama and Edwards, agreed not to campaign in those states. Of course, she still put her name on the Michigan ballot when she knew the other two weren't going to. This is a clear indication of the fact that she is willing to take advantage of any opportunity, however immoral.

You can talk to me all day long about how Hillary leads in the popular vote, but it doesn't matter as long as Obama wasn't on the ballot in Michigan. She made her bed and she is refusing to lay in it.

That aside, i don't see her running as an Independent Democrat. Lieberman had more luck running as an Independent (incumbent) Senator. He had a proven track record of the office he was running for. Hillary is not an incumbent and she can't get the majority of her own party. She would have to draw votes away from the Republicans and Democrats, and that's just not going to happen.

Besides, she would risk the entire Clinton legacy if she broke away from the Democratic Party. It would be a huge risk because the odds of her winning a general election as an independent are so slim that it's a bad idea in the first place.

THAT being said, i'd love to see her run and destroy the Clinton legacy. I personally think the Clintons drink out of the same watering hole as the likes of Karl Rove and they deserve what they're getting.

If she does, she'll split the Democratic vote and ohn McCain's walking into the Whitehouse with no problems. At some point she's going to have to ask herself if her campaign has gone on so long and that it's hurting the chances of a Democrat winning the Whitehouse.

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if McCain wins regardless. Clinton and Obama have attacked each other so much that they've really alienated each other's supporters to the point where there are many Clinton supporters whom have vowed not to vote for Obama should he win the nomination and vice versa.

With John McCain denouncing John Hagee and appearing on Ellen there is no way he could just walk into the Whitehouse. He must now depend on moderate Republicans (there arn't many) and independents if he hopes to win.

He has alienated the core Republican base, many who now see Clinton as the most conservative out of her, McCain and Obama.

So you have alienation all around which is why an independent run by her would be viable and if she somehow secures the Democratic nomination she will win by a landslide.

I'll mention again I am not a Clinton supporter, I am just trying to have an objective view on the whole thing.

[edit on 25/5/08 by MikeboydUS]