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Hillary needs a slogan.

The closest thing to a mantra I've heard from Hillary is "America is back." She didn't drive that home. "I will work for you" didn't work well, either. She never seems to be "rolling up her sleeves" and continues to look too prim in her quite nice clothes and hair. I think she needs a personal compliment, so perhaps she won't mind this criticism in disguise. Hillary, you're just too pretty!

If she's going to be convincing with "I will work for you," then she needs to start looking like someone who works, instead of a lady on a clothes binge. Get dressed to relax. We've seen every president since Eisenhower in jeans and jogging suits. Now in Texas, Hillary could show up at a diner in jeans and a nice sweater, couldn't she? Her clothes people could find some flattering jeans, as I did a few days ago! Boots with heels might make her feel at home in Texas and make her look taller and more impressive, relaxed, and ready to act.

Her messages give the audience no chance to reply. I'd like to see her getting audience response that competes with "Yes, we can." How about "Are we proud of America?" We'd respond, "Yes, we are!" (Okay, she might have to remind us of what America was before Bush, but she can do that.)

She needs to remind Americans that we loved our country and its leadership not too long ago. She mustn't let Bill's indiscretion make her timid. I've known Republicans who thought he was an evil liar back then, but even they now comment on how likeable he is. When Al Gore made the mistake of separating himself from Bill, he lost votes.

She needs her husband back on the trail. Sure, everything he says is scrutinized, but it holds up with her supporters. For instance, I still see no racism in Bill's remark about Obama's "fairy tale." He could say the same about McCain's trickle-down economics. Bill can explain away any attack. That's why I voted for him, because of his verbal skills!

Hillary needs to rally those people who would say to Obama, "We love America already and don't want it changed too much or too recklessly." We baby-boomers don't want to turn it over yet to the young. We're still kicking! They tear down buildings that are still fine structures. Young people re-decorate too much. They haven't learned yet what has lasting value.

Obama himself may make sound judgments, but older Americans should worry about his youngest followers. I'm not sure what kind of changes THEY want. They may find themselves disillusioned when they understand that his changes aren't much different from Hillary's. She needs to play the educator to them, plus rally the boomers who made America what it is today and don't want their work squandered.

She also needs to hit on women's rights. More women than ever before are in prison, and many of them are black. Few female inmates have committed violent crimes. Obama mentioned black prisoners, and Hillary missed the chance. I taught in a federal prison and became privy to the primary lesson these women learn from their counselors: don't follow a man into crime. Women aren't by nature destructive. It costs taxpayers more than $20,000/year/person to keep them locked up.

Some women are in prison because hate crimes legislation hasn't stuck to them. They fought back and got punished for it. Since law school, Hillary has known a group of lawyers and judges who've set precedents against incendiary speech. Until now, these have benefited African Americans more than women. Get on those women's topics, Hillary, and separate yourself from Obama.

Learn more about this author, K. Louden.
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