Jonah Goldberg writes in National Review, The Hillary Fascination.

Excerpts:

What I mean is: Have you ever heard her speak, as a politician in her own right, and been wowed by her eloquence or floored by her insights or even particularly impressed by her raw political skill?

I’m hard-pressed to think of any examples. I suppose her famous dismissal of any interest in how, on her watch, four Americans were murdered by terrorists — “What difference, at this point, does it make?!” — could count as fascinating in its brazen indifference and staggering cynicism. But c’mon.

The simple fact, by my lights at least, is that Hillary Clinton is not a compelling personality in her own right. Even Bill Clinton’s harshest critics have to concede that he was a masterful politician, a jazz impresario mixing deep insights, policy minutiae, and folksy cornpone peppered with compelling half-truths and daring outright lies. Barack Obama isn’t nearly as gifted as Bill was on the stump or in the backrooms, but the man has political talent. Hillary’s a very solid policy wonk, but the only thing that makes her a rock star is that people keep calling her one.

HKO

She was played as the brains behind Bill, but Bill seems to me the one with the brains.  Hillary has a career with strings of  episodes of deceit and few accomplishments in spite of being in powerful positions with the ability to wield considerable influence.  Her temper, in my opinion, belies a mediocre intellect.  From her “I’m not sitting at home baking cookies” to the “what difference does it make” she greets tough questions not with authority and confidence but with inappropriate outrage.  Her treatment of Secret Service was often mean spirited.  In spite of her long proximity to the halls of power, I do not see her with the leadership skills and acumen for the job.

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