I know there is a temptation for some to believe that a feminist could not be put off by Hillary Clinton. But as a feminist I am put off, and have been for several years. But certainly not because I think she is hysterical (unless you mean by that there is something funny about her.) Indeed, it is my belief that were she male my feelings would be much stronger. Try as I may to be objective I still find myself feeling more trusting toward women. Maybe it's a Mom thing.

But I have never had such a weakness for Senator Clinton. Far from hysterical, she comes across to me as calmly mean, a trait I would normally associate with a corporate takeover artist or the lawyer trying to misrepresent my life in court. Her war vote. Her tortured reasoning to justify past arrogance. Her dishonesty. And worst of all, and this is hardest to put my finger on, her insincere, almost passive ruthlessness-- not over principles but against principle.

Tonight, curiosity overtook me and I watched her interview with Bill O'Reilly. He asked her about Reverend Wright. I would have been less annoyed by her answer had she just attacked Obama. But she feigned disinterest about the issue and then--pounce!-- conveniently pointed out that she would not have stayed in that church if it had been her. All the while she pretended that she really didn't want to discuss it at all.

This is not hysterical -- it is the opposite. It is meanspirited calculation.

I am certain that under the circumstances of this week, if other candidates were faced with such a question -- Biden, Dodd, certainly Obama himself -- would have taken the opportunity to say; My opponent has been through something tough and I think his words yesterday were correct. Let's move on. But not Senator Clinton. She praised herself and when referring to Obama's press conference said he finally said something.

I don't think it bothers her for a single moment that she is talking about a person's church and pastor or how small and terrible a way to get votes that is.

Honestly, being female is Senator Clinton's strongest suit with me. For all of those who don't understand how she lost her inevitability -- look no farther than her demonstrated character. She would be a very firghtening President.

Adkisson, you said

<<She would be a very firghtening President.>>

You really have a serious psychological problem.

I suppose that you use the Slate to say things like this one because almost nobody here would waste his or her time trying to show you how stupid your statement is. Would you dare to support this idea in front of logic and critical reasoning students in a college or university? And if you dared, do you think you could create a sound argument?

There is something very bad with you Obama supporters. If I heard any Clinton supporter say that Obama is the Antichrist or something like that, I would tell him that he is talking nonesense or that he is crazy or a fool. But in the Obamaworld where you live, your Obamapeers say lots and lots of crazy or just plain stupid things and you just congratulate them or defend them like you defended that lunatic called tcerveza here at Slate. What is the matter with you people? What is wrong with you? Why do you Obamabots hate so much? Do you really feel that Obama is the one who will make your political dreams come true?

For example, you messiah has said that he will unite the nation. Has he said how? No? Then how can you believe him? Just because you want to believe? Don't you need specifics? Don't you need a plan? Where are your reasoning skills? Why all that faith? Do you think we are dealing with a religious event?

Dear Steve;

I misspelled frightening. Thanks for pointing that out. Or didn't you notice.

What in the world is the rest of your post about? Obama is not my Messiah? If anything he merely has the virtue of normality. The subject was whether Hillary Clinton is hysterical, or if there is another reason she is regarded as untrustworthy by a majority of Americans. Don't wreck the thread.

Hillary scares me too. The best adjective that I can apply to her is Nixonian. I decided months ago that, because her style reminds me so much of the old trickster, I couldn't vote for her. I have always thought that those Republicans who knew what Nixon's character really was like should not have voted him into office simply because they wanted to have their party back in power. And some of them must have known. If I vote for Hillary,given my belief that she is a dangerous woman, then if she engages in Nixonian dirty tricks as President, I can only blame myself. Ask yourself why, among the Democrats who know them best -- their fellow Senators -- Obama has a large majority of the declared Senator's support (18 - 13). It must be his inexperience that they find attractive.

Uh, Steveaustin,

Clinton has been saying Obama would make a very frightening president for the past two months, or haven't you noticed? What do you think her 3am ad was about? Or when she basically flat out said that McCain would be a better president than Obama?

And as far as your appeal to logic, how is saying Clinton would make a frightening president in any way equivalent of calling Obama the antichrist? And since when do Obama supporters think of Obama as some messiah. I know that's a popular attack by Clinton supporters, but what's the basis? Just because he's inspiring that's somehow a bad thing? I'm sure you voted for Nixon in 1960 because that JFK was all hot air, right? Oh yeah, Obama's not JFK cause JFK was a hawk, just like Clinton. I forgot, that's what he was really all about in retrospect.

Finally!

For months, I've been privately comparing Hillary Clinton to Nixon. I have felt like others thought it was just my hyperbole. Maybe we can get "Nixonian" to stick... Spread the word!