Most thinking people who have been following the Presidential Follies in the mass media, or on my favorite place to follow along, NewsGang Live, believe with few exceptions that the race for the Democratic nomination is over and Obama will have the delegate math to take the nomination. It may not be pretty and getting past pesky Clinton goal post changes are still to come, but I agree with that analysis.
What I don't agree, and despise the mass media's complicity in, as well as some NewsGangers, is the absolute amnesia that seems to have enveloped them all regarding Hillary Clinton when it comes to thinking she should be the vice presidential nominee. Here's my case.
The Republicans would have loved nothing more than to run against Clinton. They've got suitcases full of crap to throw at her and would. Failing that, they'll through the same crap at her if she is the VP nominee. Count on it. They are just waiting and sense, in my opinion correctly, that she would weaken Obama's chances if she's on the ballot as number 2. In my opinion, she's had a free ride in the Follies so far, simply because Obama hasn't chosen to throw mud her way. Obama will end up spending time on the trail defending against Clinton's past and why she was his choice as opposed to advancing his agenda. Steve Gillmor frequently says the Republicans will have a hard time trying to tear down Obama because he is a black man and I agree. They won't have to if Hillary is the number 2 because they'll play the distraction game and attack Hillary, knocking the whole campaign off message and off kilter.
Clinton, from a purely political perspective, has been impressive as hell in her run. Her campaign, and she, blew it early on, then fought back, and continues to do so. The media loves this and has been complicit every step along the way to keep things going. But it points up the distinct difference that no one dares name on the airwaves for fear of popping the balloon. Everything Obama has tried to run on regarding change, Clinton is the antithesis of, and her excellent skills for political survival point that up. If we really want a chance at change in this country, we should move on. I sincerely hope Obama does.
Those that play the political calculus racket and talk about the number of votes and this constituency and that and who see a potential Obama/Clinton ticket may be correct, but it discounts the deep hatred that so many have for Clinton, no matter her accomplishments. That deep hatred is palpable and real and will have an effect and it extends back to the days of her husband's presidency. In my mind that's worth percentage points in quite a few places that decide whether the electoral map is red or blue on election night.
I'm tired of the Clinton gang. They are damned good at their jobs, but also too good, because they methods and motives are just too transparent these days. More so than the Republicans. They took with Lee Atwater started, the Clinton's first refined, Rove refined further, and have now given it even more refinement. They just aren't clever enough to hide their tracks. I'm not saying the Obama crowd is any purer, in reality they probably aren't. But, and here's a key distinction for me, we don't know those players yet, and quite frankly, until we do find out who does what and why, it would be a badly needed breath of fresh air that I think the country badly needs.
I doubt there will be much resolution at this afternoon's Democratic Rules committee deliberations and I doubt this entire thing will be over soon, simply because Clinton is has the tenacity and the temerity to hang on. When it is over and Obama has the nomination, I hope we quickly move to but the Hillary as VP argument behind us.
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