The American Spectator

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On foreign policy, it was all about "vigorous, aggressive diplomacy... but it also has to be patient. We cannot be telling people what to do. We have to use lots of carrots and sticks." At this point she told of a few diplomatic victories her husband had notched on his belt.

"We are going to shelve the cowboy mentality," she said.

On point after point, Hillary let it be known that she would take America forward by taking it backward -- exactly seven years backward, "back to sensible, workable, practical solutions."

Yes, America, you loved Bill Clinton's eight years in office, and his warm, charming, self-deprecating wife will, if you elect her, return America to those glorious years when America was prosperous, united and well respected.

It is a message pregnant with dangers. But she clearly thinks it's her best message, and she's hitting it hard.

How was her talk of Bill Clinton's Third Term received? With great enthusiasm, and enough applause to give Clinton the reassuring feedback she needed to continue pounding the same theme. And this was not necessarily a pro-Clinton crowd. I was not able to speak with all the guests, but everyone I talked to was both impressed and uncommitted. They loved what they heard -- with the possible exception of her very nuanced position on Iraq -- but they wanted to hear from the other candidates before making up their minds.

Clinton, though, has already made up hers. She's running as Mrs. Bill Clinton. So far, at least, she's not baking anybody any cookies. But the campaign is still young.

topics:
Foreign Policy, Health Care, Bill Clinton, Economics, Business, Iraq, NATO