Hillary 2016 MAYBE

[Content Note: Misogyny.]

So, first, during the 2008 election, Hillary Clinton was told to GTFO so that then-candidate Barack Obama could secure the nomination, make history, and become president.

Then, in the last year, ahead of the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton has been publicly pressured to run again, make history again, and become president. And warned, if she doesn't, she will destroy the Democratic Party and AMERICA.

Now, as it looks increasingly like she might run, it's: Not so fast, lady.

Liberal leaders want Hillary Clinton to face a primary challenge in 2016 if she decides to run for president.

The goal of such a challenge wouldn't necessarily be to defeat Clinton. It would be to prevent her from moving to the middle during the Democratic primary.

"I do think the country would be well served if we had somebody who would force a real debate about the policies of the Democratic Party and force the party to debate positions and avoid a coronation," said Roger Hickey, co-director of Campaign for America's Future, an influential progressive group.

..."If Hillary has no opposition, if she has a coronation instead, that debate doesn't happen," Hickey said.

HA HA PERFECT. Look, Ms. Clinton: We definitely want you to run, because, let's face it, you're the only Democrat with the mojo to win this thing, but YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.

The profound irony of this shit is that, when "liberal leaders" were telling Clinton to take her boobs and go home in '08, they were all crowing about how an extended primary was terrible for the party and would weaken the eventual nominee's chances and blah blah fart. Now they're suddenly taking the exact opposite position, in that a primary challenge will strengthen Clinton as a candidate.

Gee, it's almost like the rules are totally different for women or something!

Ahem.

Personally, I supported a long primary in '08, and I would support one now. I couldn't be happier if Senator Elizabeth Warren or Representative Gwen Moore (as two not-remotely-random examples) challenged the fuck out of Clinton, kept the platform as progressive as possible, and we ended up with a Clinton/Warren or Clinton/Moore ticket. Or even a Moore/Warren or Warren/Moore ticket. I WOULD LOVE THAT.

But the thing is, I wasn't one of the assholes shouting at Clinton once upon a time to get out of the race because primaries hurt the party.