Stuart Stevens, the top strategist for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, declared to an audience of reporters at a breakfast last month that electing Hillary Rodham Clinton would be like going back in time. “She’s been around since the ’70s,” he said.
At a conservative conference earlier in the year, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, ridiculed the 2016 Democratic field as “a rerun of ‘The Golden Girls,’ ” referring to Mrs. Clinton and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who is 70.
And Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, seizing on the Fleetwood Mac song that became a Clinton family anthem, quipped to an audience in Washington, “If you want to keep thinking about tomorrow, maybe it’s time to put somebody new in.”
The 2016 election may be far off, but one theme is becoming clear: Republican strategists and presidential hopefuls, in ways subtle and overt, are eager to focus a spotlight on Mrs. Clinton’s age. The former secretary of state will be 69 by the next presidential election, a generation removed from most of the possible Republican candidates.
Despite her enduring popularity, a formidable fund-raising network and near unanimous support from her party, Mrs. Clinton, Republican leaders believe, is vulnerable to appearing a has-been.
You know it might help the Republicans to remember their own history, and that their most revered President, Ronald Reagan, was also 69 years old when he ran and won his first term.
Surely they are not saying that because Clinton is an older woman, and not an older man, that she is somehow less fit for office. After all women tend to outlive men in this country by five to six years and often manage to hang to their faculties longer as well.
If they continue to attack Hillary over her age, then after she eviscerates their candidate they will have to admit that they not only got beaten by a woman, but that they were beaten by an "elderly" woman.
THAT is going to leave a mark on some male egos.
Obscure bucket of fluff freshman Governor makes fun of VP candidate Joe O'Biden's age in front of old man Running-mate.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3VXXN-fF2A
What about John McCain? He was their nominee just 5 years ago, and he was in his 70s at the time.
ReplyDeleteMcCain, Reagan, there are any number of Republican candidates and current Congressmen and Senators that can be used to show the hypocrisy of the G NO P.
DeleteMcCain was a 70+ year old cancer survivor.
DeleteCheney was in his 60's with a dickey heart.
Rmoney was 65 when he ran and has been old and out of touch since his teens.
Bush I was 65.
Newt was 68 or 69 last cycle.
They REALLY have no room to talk
LOL... they had no problem running "Gidget and the Geezer" (McCain) back in '08. Idiots.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Hillary looks better for HER age, than Palin does for her age. The old farts in the gop should be reminded "Beauty fades, DUMB is forever" Especially true in Palin's case, since she is incapable of learning anything. Of couse, since they are all handsome hunks with movie star looks (yeah, right!) they can talk about Hillary's appearance.
DeleteYea, the white Republicans group in Congress have stomachs hanging over their belts, jowls that hang, bald heads and the majority of them are in no way physically attractive. Plus, they are nothing more than obstructionist!
DeleteThey have antagonized so many throughout the USA over the past years that they are going to lose big time in 2014 and 2016. It's going to be fun to watch!
Yes, that's the Republican Party leadership discussing what they consider to be the most important issue of today: the age of the woman whom they fear that their candidate will have to face.
DeleteWay to go, Repugs. You've already insulted younger women, blacks, Latino & Hispanics, now older women--- and that was just last week. So keep talking, old pasty white men who have lost touch with America. Between each of you and the Grifter class like Palin, Bachmann , Gingrich et al, Hillary is a lock if she decides to run. If any of you still had a dick, you'd be stepping on it every time you turned around. Like I said... *if*.
"Gidget and the Geezer"
Delete+1
John McCain is now 76, so was past 70 when he ran in 2008.
ReplyDeleteGeo. H.W. Bush was 69 when he ran for re-election against Bill Clinton in 1992.
As you've noted, Saint Ronald was 69 when he first ran.
The GOP hasn't a leg to stand on in this battle, especially if Hillary's v.p. choice is in his or her 40s or 50s.
My error: Bush was 68 when he ran for re-election; would have been nearing 73 by the end of his second term.
DeleteWho would the voters rather have: an incredibly smart and experienced female candidate (Hillary Clinton) or the choice the GOP gave us for vice president in 2008 -- a 44-year-old female who'd been a governor for less than two years, and, before that, had been mayor of a town smaller than many school districts.
Hillary:US Senator from NYS for eight years, Secretary of Stated for four years. Not to mention her legal background and undeniable intelligence. All her "scandals" and other problematic issues are also so far in the past that, if the GOP brings them up, they'll be talking to people who have no direct knowledge of the incidents, or who don't care about them.
The Republicans have no one with equal qualifications to run against her. No one. Any youngish person will look inexperienced and callow. They've already culled their senior statesmen.
Dont you mean Mayor of a town smaller than some High Schools? Lol
DeleteThe gop has already pissed off the over-65 crowd with their attacks on social security and medicare. Now this. Add anyone over 65 to the list of groups the gop has antagonized by their recent actions: women, students, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims,the LGBT community, etc.
ReplyDeleteLOL. They're just alienating everyone.
DeleteMaybe they think they've got enough rich, white, 1%ers to carry an election?
And how funny is that, since many of the 1%ers are older as well.
DeleteThey are so desperate it would be funny if they weren't so insane. Now Kasich has taken Ohio women back to the 40's. I'm sure we in MI are next on the ALEC hit list. What is the purpose of all this hate against women? These men are no more interested in 'babies' than they are in jobs. I do not see the big picture here. They are going to alienate all but the most fanatical fundie women, and frankly, the rest of us well outnumber them. Are they thinking that since Citizens United, their last SC hope for a GOP sweep, was such an abject failure, that gutting the VRA will surely disenfranchise enough Democrats to hand them the WH on a silver (polished by the slave girls) platter? Good luck with that one, Reince and Co. We may not call ourselves mama grizzlies, but we think and vote and talk to each other.
ReplyDeleteThat lesbian poster said it all...they don't get any, and they're all mad about it.
DeleteWill they make Paula Deen White House Chef?
DeleteLynne,
DeleteI'm so glad I bailed on that party of disgusting people years ago. I have some of the same *likes* as that lesbian, and I don't want to risk being alienated from that which I've been accustomed to because my political peers are stupid and have given up the hobbies that we virile men still enjoy.
Damn, that's a lot of words just to keep from saying a *bad* word and offending anyone. I just wanted to see if I could do it without sounding like SP, the word salad tosser emeritus.
They've got nothing and they know it. The talk about throwing something at the wall to see if it sticks!
ReplyDeleteWill the regressives throw their Saint Ronnie under the bus by pointing out that he was an Alzheimer's patient in his second term and that Clinton will probably have a diminished mental capacity before her term is out?
ReplyDeleteI would not put it past them.
It does seem an interesting bind for both parties in a way, as Democrats cannot throw that one out either without drawing a line to both Clinton and Biden who are of the same age.
Mr. VP and Mme. Secretary are both highly intelligent and would be formidable contenders, but words thrown out can have devastating consequences for both sides.
What do you think?
Diagonal: The world is a very simple place when one's a wingnut:
DeleteConservative, good! Not conservative, BAD!
(But let's not encourage Mr. VP to run in 2016. Too soon to say for certain, but he's served honorably over a long career and can continue to serve our country after he leaves office in a variety of ways, but his time to run for The Big One has passed. I don't think he would be remotely as formidable a contender as Hillary.)
Totally Agreed, Beldar!
DeleteI love Joe Biden, but I agree as well. Nobody can surpass Hillary.
DeleteWhen the inevitable happens ------> Mooselini goes after Hillary Clinton, I hope the former First Lady stays above the fray. My hope is she won't lower herself to Palin's level no matter how much of a squawk the ex half-gov makes.
ReplyDeleteHillary Clinton wouldn't spend more than a minute thinking about Sarah Palin. And, when and if she does, it will only be to laugh with her staff about the appalling egotism of The Quitter to think that she's still part of the national debate.
Delete6:55 Don't worry about Hillary! If she has to, she'll clean up the ceiling w/Sarah Palin. All they have to do is allow leaks about Palin's past and proof of Todd being a 'pimp' and the race is on! (for Hillary that is!)
DeletePersonally I PREFER someone with some age under their belts. Yes, there are SOME who can handle to position without some years there (Present POTUS as an example), but I still feel better with experience.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it's nice she isn't some damned idiot like what the repubes have, but that's simply icing on the cake!
The GOP doesn't have one candidate with any credentials, so that strategy is the only one they could try. Throw Sarah Palin back at them. ha!
ReplyDeleteWhile the wingnuts are focused on Hillary let's keep our eyes firmly on 2014.
"Throw Sarah Palin back at them. ha!"
DeleteExactly. "Oh, you mean you would prefer Sarah Palin's qualifications and emotional state to mine/Hillary's??"
And Palin will be interjecting herself into the race 24/7 as an attempt to fund-raise (for herself and clan), so the comparison between Hillary and Sarah will be inevitable, and it will continue throughout the campaign.
After all, the GOP, after destroying considerable computer evidence, represented that Sarah was eminently qualified – so, there'll be that component, too. "Here's the GOP's definition of a qualified female candidate; and here's our definition of a qualified female candidate." So, yes, republicans, please, please go there. Lol, we appreciate your early contributions to the race.
WTF has Sarah Palin done the past five years other than to age un-gracefully while runnIng her filthy, loud mouth? What does that qualify her for?
DeleteI wonder---would Wasilla re-elect her today, given that they now know that she couldn't competently run their tiny town without hiring the first city manager to manage the day-to-day operations? I'd like to see that poll, just for shits and giggles.
I still find it funny that Sarah knows that the more familiar people are with her actual work, the less they would support her for *any* elected position. That's got to be pretty humbling, if not outright humiliating for Sarah and her *ilk*.
"...the more familiar people are with her actual work, the less they would support her for *any* elected position. That's got to be pretty humbling, if not outright humiliating for Sarah and her *ilk*."
Delete------------------------------
It would be humbling or humiliating if the narcissistic dunce or her imbecilic followers had (pardon) the slightest fucking clue that Sarah was not universally worshiped.
Those negative polls? Pffft. If you don't/won't see them, the opinions contained in them don't exist!
Without his Alzheimer's, Reagan might actually have been as awesomely awesome as the forgetful Republicans misremember him being.
ReplyDeleteBut, seriously, he was terrible.
Until Hillary can show Stuart Stevens - and his ILK - her penis, she has no chance of garnering ultra-conservative support for her candidacy.
And until Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Ryan Paul, Paul Rand, Ryan Jindal, Paul Pawlenty and Rand Santorum can show me their vaginas, they won't garner my support, either.
Dammit Beldar!
DeleteI'm chokin'!!!
Cough! Snort! Chuckle!
There's gold in them thar words!
Beldar: That was a riot!!! Funny! Hillary will clean their clocks!
DeleteDamn, Beldar. You're funny. Now I can't remember what I was going to type.
Delete"And until Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Ryan Paul, Paul Rand, Ryan Jindal, Paul Pawlenty and Rand Santorum can show me their vaginas, they won't garner my support, either."
DeleteShoot, Beldar, I can promise with confidence that if they *could* show me their penises, I would vote for them.
I am not concerned. I am sure I will be voting Democratic.
Why, Nefer, I do believe you just found a very polite, respectful and lady-like way to call the GOP's finest 'dick-less wonders'!
DeleteGood job!
(but in accordance with the now expired "Fairness Doctrine", I am obligated to point out that when you facetiously typed 'show me their penis" a certain NYC mayoral candidate responded with an all-too-familiar flutter in his groinal area...)
Just replay the Benghazipalloza tape with the sound off, you'll see who has the cajones in that room.
DeleteWell Done, Beldar, especially the last paragraph.
Um...her mother lived to be in her 90s. Arguments about her being old will backfire.
ReplyDeleteAll the focus on age suggests to me that Ted Cruz will be their candidate. Think two things: he'll be beyond brilliant at being a fool; and that Hillary will mop the floor with him. Ted's ideas are far older than Hillary also, too. They have really handed Hillary several bumper stickers with this.
DeleteThe "Um..." Troll is back.
DeleteHi Bristol!
Can't fight her policy positions, so it's her age? I can tell you how that strategy will go over with women - like a lead balloon.
ReplyDeleteOld Turtleface is older than Hillary as well. Let's get rid of him first.
ReplyDeleteI second that.
DeleteThere's a reason that Turtleface washed out of the Army in 1967 before he even got his fatigues zipped up all the way. I hate repeating gossip except when it's true and it's about a hypocritical closeted, asshole that gives turtles a bad name. But Mitchie Mac was observed munching on another soldier's hot dog. And no, McConnell wasn't stealing food off someone else's plate. Capice' ? See McConnell's Military Discharge.
DeleteMcConnell's a bitter old closet queen in the same mold as Larry Craig of Idaho. Google Wide Stance, and Craig's picture pops up. I shit you not.
DeleteStuart Stevens, the genius behind Mitt Romney's landslide loss, thinks attacking a woman over her age is a winning strategy? Hahahahahahaha!!! Please proceed, Mr Stevens.
ReplyDeleteAt 69, Hillary is more technologically and socially savvy than Mittens could have ever dreamed of being.
ReplyDeleteAnd how dare they criticize her age when they had the nerve to run a 70-something man with four bouts of cancer and other serious health problems a few short years ago.
I am SOOO damn sick of IOKIYAR!!!
All of you above are correct and I am proud to be in your company!
DeleteDid Turtleface think of that strategy? I was just beginning to warm up to BEN GHAZI!!! Now, I'm not so sure that I'll switch to the Republican Party like I was considering. Signed, An OLD Woman who's a few months younger than Hillary.
DeleteBecause older Americans never vote because we're too old and stupid, especially us women.
They're afraid of Hillary because there are many, many women who support her and besides there's no comparison to a woman who with so much experience.
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for the day "our Sarah" starts attacking Hilary. She made comments in 2008 that women shouldn't attack other women. But Sarah is such a lying hypocrite that if Hilary runs, I'd bet anything Sarah starts in on her.
ReplyDeleteI really hope Sarah tries to form a 3rd party and runs. How entertaining for us. I think if she does it, it's mostly for the $$$..
She'll also fracture the Republican Party even further.
DeleteGo Sarah, run until the party shatters in a lot of tiny little bits.
Hasn't Mitch McConnell been around since the 50s?
ReplyDeleteOr does it just seem that every Republican has a mindset like it's the 50s?
June Cleaver needs to get her ass back in the kitchen and start popping out those little Republican voters, eh?
But yet another Bush would be ok. That's not the past.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Clinton will have fun quoting Reagan when the republicans try to make age an issue:
"I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Exellent. Like Sarah Palin says, we have long memories.
DeleteJebbie is 60 himself, which means 63 by 2016. really six years difference is such a big deal?
DeleteOT: Gryphen, you should really check this out:
ReplyDeleteDid Sarah Palin accidentally endorse the "American Freedom Party"?
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/01/sarah-palin-may-have-accidentally-endorsed-racial-supremacy-group-video/
I've said it before...slip quietly behind one of those paranoid little Bots, whisper "Hillary" and see how high they jump. The one who manages to clear the handlebars on their Big Gubmint scooter gets one of Dodie McDerpinson's old roadkill wigs, mounted to a personalized plaque.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Yosemite Sam/McNasty? He was 72 when he was running (at the same time that Snowflake was running in the VP election).
ReplyDeleteR in NC
As best as I can understand it, the republican mantra is and will be: "Don't vote for her: she's sooooo yesterday. Vote for US: because WE are the 1950's (or, perhaps, the 1740s)."
ReplyDeleteWith a couple of specific references...Hillary and GOP...that would make a great bumper sticker.
DeleteAnd really, the party that ran Reagan, Romney, and McCain is now bitching about Hillary's age???? The party that brought Strom Thurmond into the Senate chamber to vote while he was on his nursing home bed?? Reaaaalllly? Think I'm going to choke while laughing. As between wise old woman and dirty old man, I think I know who I'll vote for.
ReplyDeleteBoth Hillary and Michelle are skilled, talented, qualified and competent at whatever they do.
ReplyDeleteSarah is all 👢🐷🙇🗽🔯💰🚻💣🔘💸👼🔩💄☢✞
Let me start by saying that if Hilary is nominated, I will work for her, vote for her, and donate money.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I hope she doesn't run. We need to build up our bench, which is actually pretty good. We have a great group of younger Dems who I think would be excellent in office and wouldn't bring the baggage Hilary does. I am a few years younger than she is - just a few - so I am of her generation. I've always liked and supported her - though since I don't live in
New York, I couldn't vote for her - but we need someone younger to run.
Again, that said, if she gets the nomination, I'll work my tail off to get her elected. Does that make sense?
Absolutely, phoebes in santa fe @ 10:12:
DeleteI am 73, and while I admire her and will vote for her should she be the nominee, I hope for the younger generation to "step up". There are so many possible candidates...!
Yes it does, phoebes. I feel the same way. I hope we can find a great new face with some legislative experience that can win, but if not, I would work to get Hillary elected. Hillary as mentor to a younger running mate could also be a very good move.
DeleteI would ordinarily agree with you but, between gerrymandered districts and the explosion of voter suppression laws that are the inevitable result of last week's VRA smackdown, I think this is a dangerous time to look for a new face.
DeleteIt is highly likely that the Supreme Court will be replacing justices during the next presidential term and we cannot afford to allow even the slightest possibility of a Republican in office when that happens. Adding any more conservative justices would cause irreparable damage to our country for decades to come.
So, electing Hillary would be like going back in time "because she's been around since the '70s." Oh, so any person who may have a deep knowledge of history, through personal experience, is disqualified – but only if they are female. But as for IDEAS that have been around since the 1800s – and thoroughly rejected by most Americans – a man who fronts those ideas and yet has no knowledge, understanding, or personal experience contributing to history (Hillary cut her teeth working for the Children's Defense Fund and the Watergate hearings committee) – well, that's just fine and dandy.
ReplyDeleteI remember the boy-against-girl bullying at recess when I was in elementary school. Much of what the republicans are doing is reminding me of that. Can't imagine the raging sexism we'll see by 2016.
The majority of fat, ugly, white, idiotic Republicans are going to lose this new take on Hillary Clinton big time. She'll beat the shit out of any candidate they put up there against her and they know it!
ReplyDeleteCan hardly wait to vote for her should she get in the race! I voted for President Obama both times, but will be EAGER to mark the ballot for her this go around.
Hillary is not a has-been. She is a never-was.
ReplyDeleteAny conservative republican,including Sarah, will beat her easily in 2016.
Are you lost?
Delete"Any conservative republican,including Sarah, will beat her easily in 2016."
DeleteYou betcha!!
Oh, if ONLY The $creechy Wretch(tm) hadn't been thwarted by her own profound and irreversible incompetence and had run against that bad Black Man in 2012 we'd be dancing in rill Amercian clover by now, AM I RIGHT?????
2016 is $creechy's year, I can just feel in my bunions!
RUN, $CREECHY (or ANY GOPooper!), RUN!!!
Sarah will not run in 2016. Hard for the stupid to accept, but still the absolute truth.
DeleteWatch and learn fool.
"She is a never-was."
DeleteA statement that moronic? No wonder you are anonymous. I wouldn't publicly show off either if I were capable of saying something so objectively, factually, stupid, as what you did.
Sarah won't beat anyone, by the way, because Sarah is too lazy, greedy, and cowardly to run.
And, none of the various parties want anything to do w/Palin. She'll go absolutely nowhere and won't be able to run!
DeleteCan the GOP convince America that Hillary Clinton is too old?
ReplyDeletehttp://theweek.com/article/index/246333/can-the-gop-convince-america-that-hillary-clinton-is-too-old
http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/246338/why-republicans-should-shut-up-about-hillary-clintons-age
NO!! Too many in the Republican party have run in the past that were older.
ReplyDeleteFACT - Dems
FICTION - Repubs
Attacking age?? Hmmmm, that's what democrats are good at. I swear, everything I read, a democrat did it first. Thing is, democrats aren't held accountable and given passes daily. smh
ReplyDeleteYou keep using the acronym for "shaking my head."
DeleteSeriously, you should stop.
Everyone of your idiotic comments is proof that you have shaken your head for too long and too often. Whatever little intelligence you had has long since been destroyed by your incessant head shaking at things you are simply too stupid to understand.
You are a moron and your comments are proof.
You are also an awful person.
Ugh. We're fu**ed if Hillary Clinton looks good as a candidate. We need to get rid of both parties, neither of which has good assets or tenets anymore. Getting rid of both MIGHT get rid of stereotypes. The stereotypes derived from ignorance kills a country. No, people who dislike Obama aren't racist. No, just because a person votes democrat doesn't mean they're on welfare.
ReplyDeleteGeneralizations aid no one.
Everything in your comment is asinine.
DeleteAs a matte of fact, yes, the only explanation for most of the objections to the President's policies and statements is racism. You don't believe this? Go ahead, research how many things racist republicans and teabaggers object to when the President proposes it even when republicans have proposed the same exact thing in the past.
In addition read the disgusting comments on any red state, twitchy, blaze, or yahoo news site.
Republicans and teabaggers are racists.
And no one of any intelligence thinks that "all Democrats are on welfare" because they know that the facts are that more republicans are.
There is a huge difference between the legislation that a republican president would sign versus what a Democratic president would sign, and people that say otherwise are either stupid or willfully ignorant.
Well, Hillary's younger than I am (so she's not old) and she's twenty times smarter than any Republican in the country.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Huh, am I the only one seeing an image of Mrs Clinton with parts of her face pinkish white and part of her face brownish ?
ReplyDeleteIs this Photoshop, or does she suffer from vitiligo, or another medical condition that is so well known in America that nobody would comment on it, but that we've never heard of in Europe ?