Although I was happy last night that Obama has clinched the votes needed to be the Democratic presidential nominee, I went to bed feeling sick to my stomach. The discomfort was due to my dismay at Clinton's graceless speech Tuesday night. She had lost the nomination, and if she really had as much concern for working men and women as she has been claiming the last few weeks, then she needed to admit defeat and start the process of motivating her followers to work hard for Obama's election in November.
Instead, we got what Jeffrey Toobin, the New Yorker writer and CNN commentator referred to as the "deranged narcissism" of the Clintons,in which Sen. Clinton was introduced as "the next president of the United States," talked about winning the last primary of the season, when in fact the voting wasn't even over and she did not win it, and claimed she had won more popular votes than anyone else, a dubious claim that includes popular votes for her in Michigan where her name and none of the other candidates' names were on the ballot and doesn't include any votes for Obama, even though, clearly, many of the voters who voted for "undecided" rather than Clinton were Obama supporters.
I went to bed thinking that Clinton is willing to tear the party apart even further to make sure that Obama doesn't win in the fall, so that she can run again in four years. I still do not trust her, but I'm feeling a little better today after the reports that she intends to concede and endorse Obama on Saturday. I am still worried about the price of that concession. Has she been successful in forcing her way onto the ticket, as the vice presidential candidate? She has indisputably been trying. I think Clinton's presence on the ticket would guarantee defeat in November. It would energize the Republican right wing, which is not happy with McCain, but hates Clinton even worse. It would keep Bill in the news. If Hillary could not keep Bill on message, there is no way Obama could do so.
I don't see what Clinton would bring to the ticket, or, if Obama/Clinton were elected, to the country. Her vaunted "competence" is so much myth. She has screwed up everything she has touched, from the failed health care initiative, early in the first Clinton administration to her own campaign. There is no way she should have lost this campaign. She started out with a 30 point lead in the polls. The Democratic party belonged to Bill Clinton. Hillary had all the connections; all the experience in national campaigns and she lost to a little known first termer who raised more money; put together a better staff; had a better strategy and executed his strategy far better.
I will hold my breath until Saturday. I won't really believe that she is conceding until I hear it. And, I won't really believe that she is not doing everything she can to sink Obama's chances until he is inaugurated next January 20th.
7 comments:
Jesus, Amish law, let it all out. You sound awful mean spirited for someone who supports the turn a new leaf candidate. Better let go of those fears and look forward with hope dude.
I probably should be a little more graceful, Easy, but I will leave that to Obama. That's why he gets paid the big bucks. I'm too upset that Hillary has been doing the Republicans' work for them by her attacks on Obama and her exploitation of white racism.
Lee reacted exactly the way you did, but it was tempered somewhat by the thrilling realization that Obama was going to be such a historic and inspiring nominee for President. I've been much more sanguine about Billary's shenanigans all along, which have kept the Republicans off-guard and out of the spotlight this whole time. Better that the racism and attacks happen early. If (I should say "when") the Republicans try these things during the real campaign, it will seem stale. Forget Hillary and celebrate. As Obama said, this was the time!
I'm so glad the Amish Politico is back, but, my dear, you need to take a deep breath and remember the single best political operative in the country is running the Obama campaign. My guess on the VP? Obama will offer, but insist that HRC be vetted same as everyone else including requiring the disclosure of some potentially embarassing or possibly even illegal info re all that moolah The Big Dog collected for his presidential library. Or imagine having to explain where and how they came upon those millions of dollars in personal income since leaving the White House. Bill will say, "No way," Hill will do her usual Bow to Bill and decline. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong . . .
I don't trust her either but that would be So terrible. I just hope he can do it on his own. I couldn't bear it if mccain....
ugh! Yes we can! i hope, please!
I don't think Obama is going to let anyone pressure him into a premature choice for VP. As he said yesterday, it's his first important decision before becoming president (!), and he's going to make it with care and deliberation.
I wouldn't be surprised if he offered Hillary a cabinet position though. I've read that he's using Lincoln's model of turning former rivals into allies instead of enemies.
His graciousness and wisdom grow more evident by the day.
Patry, it's so good to see you again. I still owe you a review of your book and will do it, I promise. I would have no problem with Hillary having a cabinet position. Or, even better, a Supreme Court position.
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