I am not as anti-Hillary as Michael is. There is almost no chance I'd vote for her in the primary, but I will say that I would happily (not reluctantly) vote for her in the general election over any of the Republican field.

I agree with much of what Michael says around here regarding Hillary. I have one concern about it, though. Is she so bad that we would like to be part of her defeat should she get the nomination? She does have a shot at the nomination, money and name recognition going for her. Yes it might be a bad move in terms of the general eleciton to nominate her and that is why I lean more Edwards or Richardson, who I think have the best shot, particularly if paired together, to win the general. But what if she DOES get the nomination.

For me, I would feel reservations campaigning for her mainly because of the war and her reluctance to say "Boy we fucked up by backing Bush's dumb war and I am PISSED." She is also too pro-business for my tastes, but, well, this is America, after all. Those two things aside, and strategy for November 2008 aside, I look at most of her voting record and I like it. I am all for a woman president and I think she is smart and competent and would make a perfectly adequate president, far superior to any Republican since maybe TR.

I think the Democratic field for 2008 (Biden aside) is an excellent one, with diversity and intelligence and a range of choices. I do not like the "inevitability" meme because it ususally doesn't work for November. I like having a real contest with several good candidates. Not only is that more democratic, but it also means the right wing propoganda machine ("media") has moving targets that are harder to aim in on. A single "inevitable" candidate gives them a clear shot.

Dynasty doesn't really bother me too much. Why? Because some families have excellent records of public service. To have JFK and RFK each be President would have been a good thing for America, I believe, dynasty be damned. My preference is for more diversity than the Yorkist/Lancasterian Clintnon/Bush War of the Roses. But I don't care as long as the result is good (which means removing the Bush side of the civil war).

So, what I am saying is, I do NOT like Hillary in the primary. But I am quite willing to support her in the general election and I do not intend to take a stand against her now that makes it hard to back her should she get the nomination.