Hillary solidifying her grip on 2008 Nomination

[SamOdom]

Clinton to Direct Creation of Democrats' Agenda

latimes.com


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Democratic Leadership Council, an organization of influential party moderates, named Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton today to direct a new initiative to define a party agenda for the 2006 and 2008 elections.

The appointment solidified the identification of Clinton, once considered a champion of the party's left, with the centrist movement that helped propel her husband to the White House in 1992. It also continued her effort, which has accelerated in recent months, to present herself as a moderate on issues such as national security, immigration and abortion.

In her new role, the New York Democrat immediately called for a truce between the DLC and liberal elements of the party, which have engaged in a ferocious war of words over the Democrats' direction since President Bush won reelection in November.

"Now, I know the DLC has taken some shots from some within our party and that it has returned fire too," she told a gathering of the group here. "Well, I think it's high time for a cease-fire, time for all Democrats to work together based on the fundamental values we all share."

Clinton assumed her role as head of the DLC's "American Dream Initiative" at a meeting that drew three other centrist Democrats widely considered possible 2008 contenders and highlighted the maneuvering already underway for the next presidential race.

 

[eek.]

Another Clinton to the rescue, saving the greatest Country on the planet.
(...2nd greatest anyway)

 

[SamOdom]

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) stepped down Monday as the chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. In the process, he gave a speech meant to help launch a campaign for president.

The Democratic Leadership Council is a 20-year-old organization of centrist Democrats that was once chaired by Bill Clinton. It is often cited for playing a major role in his rise to the presidency.

In Columbus, Ohio, Sen. Bayh turned the Democratic Leadership Council gavel over to Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, but first he gave a speech criticizing the Bush administration. “It’s on their watch that the situation in Iraq has been terribly, terribly mismanaged,” said Sen. Bayh.

If Bayh was trying to sound presidential, he's not the only one. Vilsack and Virginia Governor Mark Warner, who spoke later, are also aiming toward 2008. Then there's Hillary Clinton: “The breadth and depth of your experience and the leadership you give your communities makes me very proud to be a Democrat,” she said.

The best measure of the importance of this speech for Evan Bayh may be in the audience. As many as 50 Indiana Democrats made the trip to Ohio just to be a part of this event.

Senator Bayh met privately with many of them Monday afternoon. They are some of the people who will make up a presidential campaign organization and who feel that this was an important day for their man.

“I think it’s not just appreciation for what he did for our party but appreciation for what he did for our state,” said John Gregg, former House speaker.

“He proved he's a contender with his speech today,” said Ann DeLaney, former state chairman.

While Bayh was speaking to a national audience Monday, he made it clear that this all started in Indiana with policies including the 21st Century Scholars Program. “Our state has moved from 40th in the country in the percentage of our kids who go on to higher education to 17th. We are literally lifting up tens of thousands of poorer children,” he said.

Sen. Bayh served as DLC chairman for more than four years becoming its longest chairman. One of his advisors says he is stepping down now simply because it is time to move on to other things.

 

[SamOdom]

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) IMHO, is our best chance to win back the W.H. Maybe not top of the ticket (be OK by me) but as VP. Need a Red State!!

 

[TheRightWing]

Wonder who would be "First Dyke"

 

[docmercer--banned]

Being Mary Cheney eats more pie than 200 combined Americans at Thanksgiving, she ought to be a candidate ...

 

[SamOdom]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) called Monday for a cease-fire among warring factions of the Democratic Party, arguing that a united front is needed to reverse the party's recent electoral defeats and halt the advance of conservative Republican ideology.</NITF>

<NITF>Clinton was the marquee attraction among a procession of prospective 2008 Democratic presidential candidates who spoke at the annual summer meeting of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) -- a group that was a springboard for Bill Clinton's first White House bid 13 years ago. She announced that she had taken a new position with the group aimed at winning back heartland voters.</NITF>