Fox News is obsessed with “shadow president” Hillary Clinton

[GennGreymane]

https://www.salon.com/2017/10/17/fox...llary-clinton/

When Hillary Clinton broke her toe in London over the weekend, Americans across the country collectively held their breath, concerned about the health and well-being of their shadow president.
Just kidding — kinda.

While Clinton is in Europe promoting her new book — a tell-all explaining what happened in 2016 and how her political career came to an end — Fox News has been covering the former politician as if she were the president of the United States.
Seriously.

From her stance on the NFL protests, to her response to the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Fox News has reacted to Clinton's every move as if she were the leader of the free world and the beacon of Americanism.

That may explain why Fox News reporter John Roberts asked the real president, Donald Trump, to comment on what Clinton has said about the NFL. The question drew ire from media critics who felt that Trump's rare press briefing demanded more serious questions, such as his policy on Iran and North Korea, or the hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.

To justify his question, Roberts said it was relevant because Clinton operates as a "shadow president."

His tweet provided insight into the minds of reporters and commentators at Fox News. In their world, Trump can do no harm, so in order to counter the impartial press' narrative of the failing Trump presidency, Fox News framed Clinton as the boogieman who sinisterly opposes the current administration. One doesn't have to look further than to Fox prime time host Sean Hannity, whose nightly monologues obsess over Clinton. Hannity regularly makes use of his entire platform to attack Clinton and distract from Trump.

Fox News' agenda cannot be made more clear here. The network ferociously backed Trump in the 2016 election. So as Trump's approval rating hits historic lows, and no Republican legislation can get through Congress, they were forced to elevate Clinton to the shadow presidency in order to divert guilt.

[Cerilis]

I really like this season of US politics, it's hilarious.

[Slant]

It's kind of like a "this could've been us if we hadn't voted for Trump" effect, isn't it?

[Adam Jensen]

Republicans are hilariously obsessed with Hillary.

I wonder if it's a crush, infatuation, limerism, or twu wove.

[Edge-]

Republicans are hilariously obsessed with Hillary.

I wonder if it's a crush, infatuation, limerism, or twu wove.

They spent the better part of the last two decades building a cottage industry around attacking her, they can't let all that work go to waste even if she's back to being politically irrelevant!

[Paranoid Android]

I thought it was the deep state and then Obama holdovers.

Next is Democratic aliens.

[Grapemask]

I think they're still worried that Clinton's going to try to run again in 2020, although Clinton herself has repeatedly said that will not be the case. But you do kind of want to read something into just how much she's running around promoting her book of excuses.

It's really weird to visit Fox News lately, though - and other conservatives sites to some extent. Wall to wall coverage of Hillary Clinton. But if you go anywhere else on the internet, anywhere else on television, anywhere else in print, anywhere else in person, no one gives a shit about Hillary Clinton. It's the most batshit obsession.

[Heladys]

It's the most batshit obsession.

It's almost as if they're intrinsically batshit to begin with.

[Jastall]

I thought it was the deep state and then Obama holdovers.

Next is Democratic aliens.

Last I checked, the Deep State was headed by reptilians from Kenya, sons of Obummer spawned by Brood Queen Killary herself while Darth Soros grants his blessings and throws money at them.

Still, Clinton is just the most useful political deflection tool in the shed. Anything not to talk about Trump.

[Endus]

I think they're still worried that Clinton's going to try to run again in 2020, although Clinton herself has repeatedly said that will not be the case. But you do kind of want to read something into just how much she's running around promoting her book of excuses.

It's really weird to visit Fox News lately, though - and other conservatives sites to some extent. Wall to wall coverage of Hillary Clinton. But if you go anywhere else on the internet, anywhere else on television, anywhere else in print, anywhere else in person, no one gives a shit about Hillary Clinton. It's the most batshit obsession.

Honestly, the best thing the Dems could do is feed this. Have her talk like she's gonna run. Have everyone back her. And then, in 2019, when the Dems go into their primaries and the Republican attack ads are 98% anti-Hillary, she doesn't even run, and laughs at them all.

It's what she should've done in 2016, too, but that ship has sailed.

While it's a pretty damned transparent ploy at this point, Republicans are so desperate to keep Clinton relevant that they'll go along with it. They can't not.

[ohiostate124]

Honestly, the best thing the Dems could do is feed this. Have her talk like she's gonna run. Have everyone back her. And then, in 2019, when the Dems go into their primaries and the Republican attack ads are 98% anti-Hillary, she doesn't even run, and laughs at them all.

It's what she should've done in 2016, too, but that ship has sailed.

While it's a pretty damned transparent ploy at this point, Republicans are so desperate to keep Clinton relevant that they'll go along with it. They can't not.

Would she go along with that? She is desperate to stay relevant herself.

[Heladys]

Would she go along with that? She is desperate to stay relevant herself.

I doubt her ego would let her, but it's irrelevant because the DNC isn't smart enough to play 5D chess to beat back the Republicans even if she was willing.

[Lenonis]

I really wonder if this is another manifestation of the GOP's inability to change course.

I'm pretty sure Trump winning came as a surprise to quite a few of them -- especially given all the saber rattling about the various investigation they'd do if she was elected.

And, much like the repeal of Obamacare -- when they are in power they don't know how to shift to a new playbook. So they are just playing from the "hate on Hillary" book instead of shifting to something more productive. Much like they all hate on the ACA but don't know how to replace it.

[Endus]

Would she go along with that? She is desperate to stay relevant herself.

Oh, I don't think it's gonna happen. I don't think that much of the Democratic leadership. I'm positing just that it's the best thing they could do if they wanted to spike the Republican anti-campaign that'll be going on; let them get entirely gassed up against Clinton and then just don't run her.

[Dontrike]

When your own candidate isn't doing a lick as the president but you can't bring yourself to talk badly about him so you use that energy on the worst thing possible.

[Felya]

Because the never Hillary voters, need something to keep them going for 4 years. What else is there?

[Gestopft]

Oh, I don't think it's gonna happen. I don't think that much of the Democratic leadership. I'm positing just that it's the best thing they could do if they wanted to spike the Republican anti-campaign that'll be going on; let them get entirely gassed up against Clinton and then just don't run her.

I'd rather not see the GoP base gassed up over anything, really. The more defeated and apathetic they are, the better. I'm not sure that Clinton being in the spotlight can do anything but hurt Democrats.

- - - Updated - - -

When your own candidate isn't doing a lick as the president but you can't bring yourself to talk badly about him so you use that energy on the worst thing possible.

It's all they have. I'm sure it must be therapeutic.

[callipygoustp]

Been almost a year and Republicans still can't get over Hilary losing.

[Dontrike]

Been almost a year and Republicans still can't get over Hilary losing.

They have Al Bundy syndrome.

[Polyxo]

You know, we could just run with it and have Clinton and/or Obama manage the administration. I'm sure the individual departments and agencies would be on board.