posted May 25, 2006 12:39 PM            

By BONNA de la CRUZ
Staff Writer

A Hillary Clinton rally drew critics of President Bush, nonpartisan voters looking for a strong leader, and people who want to elect a female president.

About 20 people attended the Tuesday event, the national kickoff for Hillarynow.com, a grass-roots group pushing to draft the New York senator and former first lady to run for president in 2008.

"I've been fired up about her for a long time," said Mary Sneed, 64, of Pegram. "I think she can get things done. I admire what she's done in upstate New York. If she can win over New Yorkers, she can win over anybody."

Organizers hoped to have 200 people at the event in Nashville, a city selected to show that Democrats can win in Southern states.

They were disappointed but said they are not focused on numbers.

"We can build something from this," said E. Gayle O'Hanlon, president of Enchanted Gingerbread, who cooked for and helped organize the fundraiser.

Clinton is not associated with the group. "Hillary is focused on working for the people of New York and winning re-election to the U.S. Senate," Ann Lewis, director of communications for Clinton's Senate campaign, said via e-mail.

Miami Beach-based activist Bob Kunst, the founder of Hillarynow.com, said Clinton needs the help of energized grass-roots supporters, not the Beltway consultants who tripped up the campaigns of John Kerry and Al Gore.

"Out of this can come the White House, starting here in Nashville," Kunst said. "We're not afraid of the controversy, and we have to make the controversy an ally."

Under large shade trees on a vacant lot in the Germantown neighborhood, the mostly female crowd picnicked. Two anti-Clinton protesters picketed on the sidewalk nearby.

"Nashville is well-known as the buckle of the Bible Belt, and Hillary's position is in direct opposition to the values of both Republicans and Democrats," said protest organizer Tom Kovach, 48, of Mt. Juliet, a candidate for Congress in the 5th District.

Attendees got custom-baked "Hillarynow.com ginger-girl" cookies that O'Hanlon baked and chocolate chip cookies from a Clinton recipe made by Goodlettsville chef Anna Lia Notardonato-Hicks.

posted May 25, 2006 01:52 PM            

Right now, she's attempting to navigate between the far left and the middle, telling each group what they want to hear.

I have no respect for those who attempt to hide their real political agenda.

I didn't like the politics of Hubert Humphrey or Daniel Patrick Moynihan but they were true liberals who made it clear where they were coming from and didn't duck, dodge and hide behind a false front. That can be respected...even in disagreement.

About the only true liberal left in the US Congress is Joseph Lieberman who is dissed and dismissed by leftist democrats and he's the only one who makes any sense at all.

posted May 25, 2006 03:35 PM              

...grow and learn...*sigh*

I used to really like Hillary....especially when Bill was president (I liked him too)....I mean I really, really admired that woman. I thought she was super intelligent, and so tolerant and forgiving (in putting up with Bill and his shinanigans - and the way she appeared to bear up bravely along with Chelsea thru that awfully embarrassing time),...and I thought it was cool that she really had our best interest at heart; I had a lot of faith in her...

...and gee if she could really be president someday...that would be great!

But know what???

...once she actually got herself elected Senator of New york, I saw her "flip flop." (as the righties here used to say about Kerry)

I find I agree with jwhop when he says....

quote:

---

Right now, she's attempting to navigate between the far left and the middle, telling each group what they want to hear.
I have no respect for those who attempt to hide their real political agenda.

---

.....and I won't even get in to what Cathy O'Brien said about her....I'll leave that to anyone's imagination who has NOT read the book...

....just know that my opinion of Hillary started changing waaay before I picked up Cathy's book....

posted May 25, 2006 07:16 PM            

quote:

---

Right now, she's attempting to navigate between the far left and the middle, telling each group what they want to hear.

I have no respect for those who attempt to hide their real political agenda.

---

Must hate McCain then, too...

posted May 25, 2006 11:44 PM              

quote:

---

Then there's also the fact that she's a lizard.

---

posted May 25, 2006 11:56 PM              

I don't hate McCain....

posted May 25, 2006 11:58 PM              

How would you 'reinvent' yourself if YOU were running for office?

Just curious...