Oh well.

well, crying isn't the same as an emotional break down, and perhaps the focus on this is a bit sexist. i don't care if a candidate cries. but i'd rather then cry over something other than their self.

and...

it needn't be a men's club. but, unfortunately, hillary clinton has to know that crying might not appeal to people who are used to men, and used to them acting emotionally "strong" in these cases.

which, i think, hardly makes me the poster you might be confusing me with.

And Hillary has proven what has been known for years: America loved Bill Clinton and hated Hillary.

HE cried MAN TEARS of pride. Not womanly this-would-be-on-tv-every-night-running-up-to-the-election tears of defeat.

Anyway, I couldn't care less whether Clinton cries. I don't think it's a sign of passion, as Carollani implied; and I don't think it's a sign of weakness, as Edwards implied. It's a sign of exhaustion and the fact that she's slipping in the polls. Big deal.

HRC is fucked if she's a cold, hard ice queen and she's fucked if she displays one little tiny iota of an emotion (she did not burst into tears or have an emotional breakdown).

Any woman who gets far enough to be a candidate for president has to be ambitious, driven, career-oriented, etc. Many people (both men and women, at least, the soccer-mom-type women) are going to interpret these qualities as meaning she's an ice queen bitch.

In this country, where likeability matters so much, it's going to be virtually impossible for a woman to be perceived as tough enough to be able to deal with the "terrorists", but not so tough that people think she's a bitch and won't vote for her.

Understand that the bad blood is there, and we/she needs to deal with it, but I think about 75% of it comes from this weird, knee-jerk, who-does-she-think-she-is-anyways reaction that so many Americans had in the early 90s. People can't get over that first impression.

I think there are a handful of women (as you mentioned) who have sucessfully walked that too tough/not-tough-enough tightrope, but, obviously, none has been successful enough to become president of our fine, all-men-are-created-equal country.

I agree Edwards's response was harsh, but I must say his comments always sound more Grouchy Old Guy in print than they do when he they come out of his mouth. I'm still an Edwards guy though.

Also, Edwards realizes the problems we face economically and in foreign affairs are tough enough that he realizes that much of the public won't respect or support a potential leader to face these problems when she crumbles while facing adversity on the campaign trail and in political life in general--she asked for it.

Hillary may deserve a little sympathy, but it's hard for me to muster when she's crying through her talking points. She needs to get over the idea that it's all about her and see that she's not the candidate who's best for this country or the world. She'll make a good Senate majority leader or Supreme Court justice though...

So Edwards is fighting for the nom because his wife is going to die soon? Wha?