The Case for Hillary Clinton [Paperback]

Susan Estrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2006

With the Bush administration now in its final years, all eyes are turning to the 2008 political season -- especially those of Democratic voters, who are casting about for a galvanizing leader to help them win back the White House.

And in that role, argues longtime political strategist Susan Estrich, no candidate even approaches the power and promise of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the senator from New York. She is, by far, not only the most popular Democratic leader in the country, but also one of its most popular and admired politicians, period. Both a passionate spokesperson for progressive values and a strong advocate for our troops overseas, she has used her time in the Senate to establish herself successfully as a genuine political powerhouse. There is no candidate whose election would bring such vitality and lasting change into the White House. And she offers Americans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to break the world's most prominent glass ceiling and elect a female president of the United States.

In an atmosphere where conservative Hillary-bashing is still as virulent as ever, Estrich demonstrates all the reasons that this principled leader still blows away any other potential contender in the early polls for 2008. And, with arguments both stirring and sensible, she reminds us that if Hillary should succeed, America and the world would be changed forever and for the better.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A political strategist who's worked with Michael Dukakis, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, Estrich (Sex and Power) doesn't make any bones about her political beliefs. She's for education, choice, gay rights, the environment, accessible health care and balanced budgets, and she expects that her readers will be, too. So it's the members of her own party, and the moderates of the Republican party, that Estrich aims to persuade with this lively book on why Hillary Clinton should be elected president in 2008. "The reality is that Hillary isn't running yet, but her opponents are already running against her," Estrich writes. The recent slew of anti-Hillary books, she argues, is designed to undermine Clinton's candidacy because Republicans, who have elected such divisive presidents as Ronald Reagan and Bush 43, understand that just because a candidate is polarizing doesn't mean than she can't win. Estrich takes on Ed Klein's, Peggy Noonan's and Dick Morris's books directly, but her main argument lies elsewhere. Clinton, she says, is the only woman in America capable of becoming president, and if she wins, her mere election will further the cause of mothers and daughters everywhere. "She has become a symbol of all of us, of our generation of women," Estrich writes. "She wins, we win. She loses, we lose. That's how it works." With its detailed analysis of past campaigns, its handling of both symbolic measures and policy points, and its juicy dish about past Democratic candidates, this is the most convincing-and most entertaining-argument for Hillary yet.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Estrich argues the finer points of electing a Clinton II presidency, and paints New York's junior senator as a savior not jut for the Democratic Party, but for all women."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (October 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1615530029
• ISBN-13: 978-0060859831
• ASIN: 0060859830
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,594,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a Republican... and I couldn't put it down..., October 17, 2005

By 

Erik Hodge "E. Hodge" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Case for Hillary Clinton (Hardcover)

I am a life-long Republican and watch Ms. Estrich on FoxNews, so I picked up this book and read it in two hours... it's well-written and packed with interesting insights and stories about presidential campaigns. I highly recommend it regardless of your political beliefs. Can Hillary win? I hate to break it to all you haters, but she has a shot. Ms. Estrich makes compelling arguments as to how she has transformed into a powerful centrist senator and shrewd politician. I don't think Condi will run, so I'm not sure who we have who can beat her... it's going to be an interesting race in 2008.

P.S. Don't listen to all these overtly partisan reviews, anyone interested in hearing a balanced argument should read this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I am neither an American nor a woman, but enjoyed this book, July 26, 2006

By 

Chaika (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Case for Hillary Clinton (Hardcover)

The law scholar and US presidential campaigner, Susan Estrich,is trying her best for making the case for Hillary. I think it very unlikely that the current "Madam Secretary" is running for the next US president against Hillary. If she does, she would certainly be beaten by Hillary. So the Republicans would nominate somebody else such as Rudolph Giuliani and
John McCain. In either case, Hillary would not be easily beaten by either man. Then why not challenging? In my opinion, the time is ripe for Americans to elect the first "Madam President" for a change. Then the rest of world would be willing to listen seriously to what she would say, which is truly inspiring. We have been fed up with what George Bush, Jr. kept saying... His talk is nothing intellligent, but simply bloody and boring. We are planning to translate this book into Japanese so that many other non-English speaking people can share this fascinating book during the 2008 US election.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It really won't change any minds, February 3, 2007

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Case for Hillary Clinton (Paperback)

I'm surprised considering the recent publication of this book, and its now very relevant subject matter, that it isn't read more. I got my copy used dirt cheap. I am a liberal independent. I have on rare occasions voted for Republicans, but my politics tend to be left of center. Thus, you'd think this book would grab me and make me change my mind - it didn't. The author writes like an attorney defending Ms. Clinton in court. As they say in law school, "When the law is against you, argue the facts. When the facts are against you, argue the law. When both are against you, pound the podium." Seems like there's much podium pounding going on in this book.

My problems with Ms. Clinton are as follows - she takes us all as fools ("I've always been a Yankee fan"), feels like she's much smarter than all of us, and does not think that the unjust disposition of a few little people that get in her way (White House Travel Office e.g.) really matters in the grand scheme of things. These are all serious character flaws - character flaws not addressed in this book, and character flaws that make me not want Ms. Clinton to be President. Nothing brings out character flaws like the pressures of the Presidency, and if Ms. Clinton becomes the first woman president she may also be the last for years to come because of this. This is the opposite of the author's prediction.

As for the state of Ms. Clinton's marriage, contrary to the author's opinion, I don't care what kind of personal life she has. I know few people that really do. It is obvious to everyone that Bill and Hillary have an arranged power-sharing agreement - just don't try to pull my leg about this to the point of amputation. Again, this just goes back to Hillary believing she is smarter than everyone else.

If Ms. Clinton is nominated, as is highly possible in a political age where he/she who has the most cash on hand wins, I don't know what I'll do in 2008. If Rudy Guiliani wins the Republican nomination, he's probably got my vote. But more than likely, if the recent past is any judge, the Republican nominee will be a Puritan straight off the back of a Dutch Master's cigar box that I will find equally unpalatable. I'm really pulling for Senator Obama. He may not have the experience Ms. Clinton has, but he has character. Experience can be learned, character is either there or it isn't.

I would say that if you have time, this book is interesting. Just don't expect it to come close to answering the tough questions. That is why I am giving it three stars.