Are you ready for Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016? Yes, it's 2013, but after last week's news that some of Hillary's former staffers have created a political action committee, the murmurings that she may run in the next presidential election grew to a fever pitch. Then last Sunday, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:: "Of course Hillary is running. I've never met a man who was told he could be president who didn't want to be president. So naturally, a woman who's told she can be the first commandress in chief wants to be."
While we may not know if the former secretary of state and first lady will be running in 2016, there are already a plethora of Hillary for president products to stockpile in hopes that she does. Hey, it's a bit cart before the horse of us, but we can't help but dream, right? From tank tops to magnets, check out some of our favorite Hillary 2016 swag!
If you've binged on Netflix's political-insider drama House of Cards, then you should appreciate newly leaked tapes of Sen. Mitch McConnell's team sharing opposition research on potential campaign foe Ashley Judd. Mother Jones, the magazine that brought us Mitt Romney's 47 percent video, released the recording, which gives a gritty look at behind-the-scenes politics. On the tape, recorded Feb. 2, you can hear how aides discuss angles of attack, including the actress's depression and more liberal views. Since the tape came out, Judd, who had already declined to run, said she "expected nothing less from Mitch McConnell and his camp."
According to the recorded Team McConnell, while conducting opposition research they found "a haystack of needles, just because truly, there's such a wealth of material." Opposing the environmentally disastrous coal-mining practice of mountaintop removal, having a San Francisco area code for her cell phone, and using the term Obamacare affectionately were all considered weaknesses of Judd, as was her support of gay marriage and abortion rights. By virtue of being a celebrity, Judd has given many on-tape and in-print interviews over the years, and McConnell's camp planned to use the more embarrassing turns of phrase against her. They also cited her own memoir as potential ammo, since it mentioned her depression and the suicidal tendencies she had as a sixth grader.
While we won't get a Judd vs. McConnell campaign, these tapes show how McConnell's team would have manipulated Judd's past statements. For example, they laughed heartily at a recording of Judd saying "Brother Donkey, Sister Bird" when talking about religion. But they did not acknowledge that Judd, who often describes herself as a Christian, was referring to a sermon of St. Francis. For his part, McConnell has asked the FBI to look into the recordings, which you can hear below.
Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, passed away today at age 87, and prominent people have been sharing their reactions to the loss.
Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, passed away today at age 87, and prominent people have been sharing their reactions to the loss. True to her "Iron Lady" nickname, the tough leader wasn't afraid to spark controversy on issues like Ireland and unions, and even today people are celebrating the end of the Thatcher era. Although polarizing, she was undoubtedly a very-quotable British icon, an influential Cold War leader, and a trailblazer for women. In the wake of today's news, see how public figures have reacted to Thatcher's passing.
It was the end of an era when Hillary Clinton signed off as secretary of state in February after four years in the position and 20 years of national service, including being a first lady, presidential candidate, and New York senator.
It was the end of an era when Hillary Clinton signed off as secretary of state in February after four years in the position and 20 years of national service, including being a first lady, presidential candidate, and New York senator. But Hillary hasn't completely retreated from the public eye. She took part in this week's Vital Voices Global Awards, which honored female leaders from around the world, and now there's news that she's writing a book. Hillary's memoir and policy book about her years as secretary of state is expected to be out in 2014.
The legacy Hillary leaves behind is impressive, as she's the most traveled secretary of state in history with 112 countries visited during her tenure — that's 112 out of 196! More impressive numbers include 401 travel days, a total 956,733 miles traveled, and almost 87 days' worth of travel time.
We're still waiting to see if Hillary will run in 2016, but as she enjoys a much-needed break from her globe-trotting days as secretary of state, we're taking a look back at her sweetest, funniest, and all-around best moments around the world!
It may only be a matter of time before the US prohibition of marijuana goes up in smoke. The same demographic realities that explain the relatively swift shift in the country's attitudes about gay marriage (i.e., young people with more open-minded views) could also bring more permissive laws about marijuana.
The political website Talking Points Memo analyzed national polls from the past two decades and compared answers to questions about marijuana legalization and marriage equality. It found that increased support for both issues mirror each other. For example, in 1995 only 25 percent of Americans supported making pot legal. And in 1996, only 27 percent of Americans supported making gay marriage legal. Since then, support for each has grown at a similar pace, and according to recent polls today more people support both legal pot and same-sex marriage than those who oppose it. And since legalizing and taxing marijuana could appeal to both liberals and libertarians alike, it could find fans on both sides of the aisle. It already did in Washington and Colorado, states that legalized pot last November for anyone over 21.
What’s next for Hillary Clinton? She just left her post as secretary of state about two months ago and while it's only five months since the last presidential election, supporters and pundits are already anxious for Hillary to commit to her next political move — especially since she’s currently polling strong as the most popular politician in the country. We break down the Hillary mania and ask will she or won’t she in 2016?
Will she or won't she? Only five months since the last presidential election, Democratic strategists and donors are dying to know if Hillary Clinton will make a second run at becoming America's first female president. The New York Times reported last weekend that the former secretary of state has set up a "transition office" in DC staffed by about six people. But political spectators don't know what she plans to transition to exactly, and that's keeping her potential supporters — and opponents — unsure of what to do next.
While they wait, some former staffers have created the political action committee Ready For Hillary. It will appeal to donors, sell Hillary 2016 merchandise, and build up an email list for a potential Hillary bid until she makes her official decision, which could be years away. But not all Democrats are necessarily ready for her. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and even Vice President Joe Biden are said to be interested in running in 2016. Presidential hopefuls must be anxious to know if they'll be up against Hillary, who will likely enjoy front-runner status.
If they're looking for clues from Hillary herself, last month she did release a campaign-style video in support of gay marriage. And although she says she's not thinking about anything other than enjoying her time off, Hillary does have a shiny new website, HillaryClintonOffice.com. If you had to play the part of pundit, would you guess she'll run for president?
"April Fools' on all y'all," says Mr. Kid President himself, Robby Novak, in this video released by the Obama administration today. The 9-year-old took his rightful spot at the presidential podium at the White House today to have a little fun. He declared, "I'm Kid President and I hope everyone has an awesome day," and added, "It's everybody's duty to give the world a reason to dance." Watch the adorable prank now.
Be it Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, if you've been on social media of any kind this week, you've seen friends upload the red equality sign first created by the Human Rights Campaign for supporters of same-sex marriages to spread the word on the current Supreme Court hearings.
Be it Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, if you've been on social media of any kind this week, you've seen friends upload the red equality sign first created by the Human Rights Campaign for supporters of same-sex marriages to spread the word on the current Supreme Court hearings. Supporters took that symbol and remixed, photoshopped, and crafted into their own personality to help it become the most-buzzed-about topic online this week.
Take a look at some of the viral versions of the simple design, and let us know if there was one you loved that should be in this mix.
What do America and China have in common? Both countries have first ladies who get almost as much attention as their ruling husbands. Exhibit A: the power of their fashion statements. Just like Michelle Obama, whose style choices can make a designer's career, the look of China's new first lady, Peng Liyuan, is having an impact on her country's industry. During her current trip to Africa, Peng wore some pearl earrings. Once the brand of earrings was reported, the company's stock jumped so much that regulators capped its price.
Fashion might seem petty, but there's evidence that Peng is changing norms in China, where past first ladies were mostly nonexistent from the spotlight. She could become a modern national figure who has a positive impact on China's image abroad. Since her husband, Xi Jinping, just became president on March 14, we're only starting to get clues as to what messages she plans to send. One such clue is her decision to wear only Chinese-designed and -produced clothes. Her ensembles typically embrace Oriental details and shy away from Western styles popular in her country, perhaps as a way to symbolize China's rising cultural influence. Beyond fashion, she also became a goodwill ambassador at the World Health Organization, hoping to contribute to HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
See photos of Peng on her debut world tour with her husband now.
