Political Extortion in slow motion

The fight for the nomination is over. Hillary was right when she said it would be decided over on Super Tuesday. It was.

And then there was February and 8 straight wins.

So Clinton sets up her firewall - her demographics Wisconsin - but she didn't really give it that big of an effort





She lost the state with all of those hard working white people by 17 points.


Bill laid it on the line - the new firewalls were Ohio and Texas where she had to win big.



She got 51% of the vote in Texas with a Limbaugh assist but still hadn't figured out how to run a caucus and lost the delegate contest. She lost Texas.


And now the firewalls were PA and IN. She won IN in another Limbaugh assisted effort by 19,000 votes.


But the real point now was not to win. They are not stupid. The point is to weaken Obama.

This is like a Quentin Tarantino classic there are two different story lines coming together in a violent conclusion.

Pulp Fiction Primary Edition.

Story Line 1) Skinny African American Scholar/Community Organizer takes on the machine and wins

Story Line 2) Entrenched Political Brand doesn't move an inch.

The fact is that the Clinton campaign hasn't moved an inch in the national polls since the last quarter of 2007.

Just one long flat line:





The point of the last month hasn't been to win the nomination - the Clinton's aren't stupid and they can count, they know the numbers.

They kept saying that they wanted to get the pledged delegates down to about a hundred but we knew that wasn't possible after Mississippi



http://www.jedreport.com/2008/03/hillary-clint-4.html

And today Hillary Clinton is behind by 186 delegates (pledged delegate lead 166)

She has no momentum in Super Delegates.



And now we have a fresh onslaught of attacks by the Clinton campaign - they fill GDP

The system is unfair.

The rules on MI/FL were unfair and even thinking about a caucus is unfair.
(Funny how fair they were when they helped Bill Clinton - Isn't kind of a mixed message to say your ready from day one but now realize that some states have caucuses.)

So with the nomination out of touch (even if the so called 'nuclear option' were to be used the Clintons would be behind by 92 delegates - that's how far behind she has fallen)




So what is this really about?

Driving up Obama's negatives so high that he has to pick her. Get the MSM to buy on the lie that Obama can't win with working class whites (forget Wisconsin and the virtual ties in Texas and Indiana make the case with two states where big state machines pushed Clinton - OH and PA - and make KY and WV somehow more representative of white people than the 20 all white states Obama won)

If the Clinton campaign can cause enough damage and create the illusion that Obama fails with a key demographic and if we threaten a floor fight all the way to the convention over the Vice Presidency -- then the Clinton campaign will be on their way to the fall back option - force Hillary Clinton on the ticket as Vice President.

Political Extortion in slow motion. Tarantino couldn't have made it any more scarier.


Just curious about all of those Clinton supporters who now parrot the Clintons latest propoganda ("Democrats can't do to Florida what the Supreme Court did" "Caucuses are beneath the Democratic Party", etc.)

Is that what you signed up for? Political Extortion?

any such thing, because unless they want trouble in Denver (with delegates trying to force a ticket--what a disaster), there's no one who can "force" him to take her as VP. No one in SD world is apparently able or willing to end the race or cross Hillary and Bill, so there's really no higher Dem power that can tell Obama what to do, either--he pretty much won this thing on his own strengths, with very little help from the "establishment". The Dem party is a very weak, loose, decentralized organization, compared to Repubs--and it's about to get a new leader.

what if she forces a full out floor fight at the convention - She has enough die hard supporters that they could force it onto the floor - she would lose but she could ruin the convention.

I didn't think so before but then I have been wrong about her strategy over the last month.

could go.

She doesn't just prove our kinder hopes wrong- she obliterates (ha) them by astounding us time and time again with her loathesomeness.

that and I thank you for it.

:party: of Change..

... and you're absolutely right, it's political extortion. And because of this, she has no merit.

just like the real Bosnia story was better than the one that they made up

The real case for Clinton is better than the power play.

:thumbsup:

she still thinks she will win.
sad either way.

in it to continue to get contributions and to advance their fall back position.

You don't get book deals lined up if you think that your still in it. Even Carville admits its over.

But I agree with you she is convincing that she really believes it. They don't

They know to win it they are going to have to get 200 delegates super or pledged to change their minds.

So far they haven't gotten one.


The other thing is that they are talking with the Super Delegates every day. They are being told in coversation after conversation that they don't have the votes.

Even if they get FL and MI seated as they want they are still 80 delegates behind, and they are not going to get FL and MI as they want.

Bush: We're winning in Iraq.
Reporter: How do you know?
Bush: If you want to win, you have to have faith. I am a man of faith.

the neocon carlyle types who prop his idiot a$$ up.

I am looking forward to the day when the Clinton stranglehold is broken on the party. It's time for us to go in another direction.

"Mr. & Ms. Clinton, you do not own this party."

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2059

These are major Florida Democrats who stood in front of the DNC and yelled "act like a man, Howard".

Very sad. The whole thing is pathetic.

I said from the first that Florida was her ticket...even though she can not win with it....she still manipulates with it.

From the words of the LaRouche Youth Movement:

by the way I support the public demand that you write a book about this when it is over.

in a most excellent way. I read each post as it is presented clearly, where even I understand.

:hi:

its the presidency or bust. Bust is not an option so VP is the bitter stepping stone.

I don't think this is about her ego. Although it has been bruised. I think she and Bill have made deals that can only come about if she (and Bill) are POTUS.

Why else sink an additional 6.4 mil into a losing campaign? With every intent of going to the convention. There is no reason unless the investment is worth the prize.

She is certainly not fighting this hard and investing so much for my benefit.

Thanks Grantcart for your weekend numbers and commentary. Delivered timely as usual. :)

K&R

1)Becoming the first Vice President will go down in history as well. Three hundred years from now children will have to learn about it and they will see the holiographic biography.

2)It also cements the Clinton as the most important political couple in Presidential history.

3) It puts her first in line for the next time. If Obama wins she can run in 8 years - she is not too old. If Obama loses then she would be in the front row.

4) Being a legislator requires a consultative personality - you have to want to compromise and listen. She strikes me as a person who would prefer a Cheney-esque position in the executive branch rather than to be one among equals in the Senate.

:spank:

It's more than narcissism..it's back room dlc dino deals..and it ain't pretty.

The Clintons know that the dollar is deflating faster than a punctured beach ball. They know that if they win the race they will be in a better postition than selling medicated cat food for "Socks XX". There is absolutely no reason to save money now, as Hyperinflation is starting to get a grip on the economy. Why invest if there are no trustworthy investments? Why not spend it on a go for broke strategy, especially when you realize that you enabled the destruction of millions of acres of rainforest by NAFTA? Why not go for broke?

Oh surely, Hillary would warn us of this... Get a clue morans, the Clintons are in it for survival at this point. I commend them for this, and I believe that everyone else should be doing that same.
The governement will not help you. You need to think of yourself as the first charity orginization. Everyone else comes after you are settled and in order.

If Hillary's campaign is out of money.. So? Why don't they do what 9 out of 10 small business owners do... Cut your losses, and get out of your losing business. Try healing the planet, coralling Monsanto, and doing some good for others with your wealth, instead of squandering it on Lobbyists and polling points.

The truth is, they cannot do this, as it is out of their sphere of influence.

Later Clintons!

P.S.
If the Clintons ever want to talk to ME, I welcome the opportunity to illuminate them on my philosophy. Of course, I don't think this will ever happen, but I welcome a chance to fill them in on what they are missing. 6 weeks notice required. I retain rights to all discussions.

Excellent post!!!

:kick: & REC'D!!!

... is that they contain too many facts. There are many here that don't appreciate those pesky lil' things - actually, they tend to avoid them like the plague.

:hi:

Quiet! You!

Do Not Ever tell people to reduce the number of facts!

You obviously need a nice spa session at Rancho Relaxo.

Facts are troublesome, I agree, but take them when you can get them!

Aloha from the Big Island of Hawai'i!

And I think they should apply here.

in bilary's collective zellout face.

Her continued presence in the race is giving them false hope, a bitterness Hillary is cultivating with her claims she can still win. Their stance is as demented as it is divisive.

Just not quite as eloquently...

K & R Very well put.

...by her own words and actions.

From a lackluster campaign, through the loss of a commanding lead, to now a certain loss, HRC has retained the possibility to be a big player in the almost certain Dem victories in November. With or without her help we will likely increase our advantage in both the House and the Senate, enough to begin the important work of sound government that has been sliding away for many years. And we will likely win the presidency, with or without her help.

What remains is whether she wants to be a party leader in the future, or another old embarrassingly delusional hack, worrying the ankles of the party as long as anyone still listens.

There was ample time for her, but it is slipping away rapidly, and again it is her own words and actions that are the problem.

sound familiar?

But do you mean things like her first failure on universal health care 15 years ago, and then no real attempt since? I agree her campaign has been poorly conceived and poorly managed, in spite of every reason for the opposite.

the more you try to cling to it the farther away it goes

fifteen years ago she was inflexible on health care, and has remained so since. That probably is the reason she failed then, and still fails, and an example of a character trait that would make her unsuitable and ineffective for the position.

And I became rich.

Is that weird or what? I went through waat millions of Americans are going through now in 2001. Only the cause of my distress was ENRON.

I lived through the California Energy Crisis

AS for Rich, I doubt anyone would consider me rich. I raise my own food, and pay little to nothing for inputs to my farm, and I get better food quality.

The corporations are full of it, and most Americans have no clue when it regards growing things.

I was in Lowes today, looking for Creeping Red Fescue, a type of grass. I found Scotts Turfbuilder. 1.5% 2-4-d in a 14 pound sack.

2,4-D can be found in lawn herbicide mixtures such as "PAR III", "Trillion", "Tri-Kil", "Killex" and "Weedaway Premium 3-Way XP Turf Herbicide". All of these mixtures typically contain three active ingredients: 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba. Over 1,500 herbicide products contain 2,4-D as an active ingredient,.

They beg for the immigrant workers to apply this toxic material, but don't give a damn about he toxic effects.

In my experience, stuff grows. All you need to do is spend five minutes a day pulling weeds to make difference. Spreading toxic chemicals is NOT the answer. You may need to drink the water that has percolated through your Scotts Turf Lawn in the future.

Of course, this is all academic. If you have the water, grow food. Grass is a luxury.

my colleagues are backing Senator Obama but we are very nervous. I was talking to a friend in New Mexico yesterday, he is for Obama but his wife is for Senator Clinton. He did not vote in the primaries but will be voting in the GE. Too many times, we have seen the Republicans stealing the votes.

It's time for all Democrats to unite to elect a Democratic President. How can we bridge the supporters of both Senators to come together?

then we will unite

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Oh wait, this isn't my own thread.

Here's a K&R anyway.

But I have to disagree on the VP being her motive. I truly believe it is more to split the party and either create a loss for Obama or a weakened presidency (much like Bill Clinton's 43-percent victory) then go for the office in 2012. Just MHO.

Ya got some mad skeels, my friend :headbang:

This time, people are paying attention to the Clintons.

They don't like they see -- Damn YouTube's

How would you like a million nerds dissecting your every move? The Clintons are probably blindsinded by it. They think "We are rich! They must love us!@" The Clintons are wrong.

As for me, I love it. As the Clintons are the ones that initiated my demise in 2001, along with thousands of other people like me in California. After the jobs endend, I landed on my feet an became aware of the sham this economy is. Clntons? hah hah.

Do Not for one minute think that I neglect Cheney or Bush in 2001.. I am looking at a the source of my troubles, and that is the one and only Bill Clinton who enabled to entire Bush Fiasco. I usualy don't go this far, but Bill Clinton, after what I have seen in the past 4 days.. You really suck.

Hillary, as a lawyer, I would think you would have better judgement. You don't. I will be interviewing my lawyers more thoroughy in the future, thank you

Bitter Ex-Clinton supporters for Obama!

Thank you for putting this clear picture together. It truly is extortion and coercion. K&R

it's not going to work..."Political Extortion"

That is curious about Wisconsin now that the details are coming into perspective. She was suppose to win the popular vote and then what happened?

Excellent quote from Obama..

"She's right," Obama says. "Speeches alone don't do anything. But you know what, neither do negative attacks."

She came in third in Iowa and barely got back in NH. She has been on a tight rope the entire time.

just a fairy tale, but I know it's not. The sad part for Hillary is that people are actually watching. She's not going to take this to convention and steal it from Obama - Dean knows what the protests will look like if she tries that. I doubt she can even push through VP. I can't imagine that Obama wouldn't fight that, would you want her as your right-hand person? It's not like she'd be pleasant to work with. I do think she's still in it to win it - and that she has miscalculated how people will react (just as she miscalculated how they would respond to her negative ads). The Clintons are so over.

and he knows how to beat it. The Clintons are finished.

With Gore in the wings, Obama will be handing them their asses in less than a week.

Written by someone who does not understand it when his own candidate asks for unity.

Is there some personal reason that the Obama camp does not want to be allied with someone whom even 58% of African-Americans would like to see as Obama's VP?

her endorsement of John McCain over her fellow Democrat..."I have a lifetime of experience, John McCain has a lifetime of experience, Barack Obama has a speech"...and the contempt in her voice when she said it was special too...that is going to be and ad that will be run 24/7 by the Repubs in every swing state from now til November...she burned her bridge to the VP spot the day that destructive bit of poison dripped from her tongue...

Some people say capitulate.

I say, pick your friends over enemies.

DLC shills be gone'

That's where Billary lost me for good: praising McCain while trashing Obama.
I would never accept her as VP but then I won't have to.

DNC rules - rules that the Clintons wanted to establish a severe punishment so that a psuedo national primary would be established as per Super Tuesday. Once Super Tuesday imploded then they became advocates in overturning the rules that were implemented at the initiation of H. Ickes.

In the meantime Clinton who is now approaching an astounding 200 delegate deficit has decided not to go out on top. It is unfortunate.

Hillary Clinton is the seminal force creating division in the party. The Michigan Democrats are united in a compromise that gives Clinton an advantage. But Hillary Clinton refuses. She refuses to be unified

She refuses reasonable compromises that are approved by the Michigan Democratic Party.




Now what is the result of the strong armed tactics in Michigan?

She is losing all of the support of the Super Delegates

Since she has made it clear that she is going to try and play by her rules and reject Michigan's attempt to unify the State Party she has lost the following Super Delegates form Michigan

5/16 DNC Eric Coleman (MI)and DNC Virgie Rollins (MI) for Obama.
5/14 DNC Robert Ficano (MI) for Obama
5/13 DNC Lauren Wolfe (MI) for Obama

Michigan Democrats have seen Hillary's hamfisted strong arm tactics and they have rejected it - but she still doesn't get the message.

In Florida a similar compromise is being worked out but indications are that the Clintons are trying to take a hardline against it as well





Bill Clinton pours kerosine on the embers to create more conflict


he goes on to accuse Obama of intentionally violating the rules when in fact he bought no ads in Florida




It is very unfortunate that the Clinton's have decided that they need to try and improve their bargaining position by political force.

I agree that there is a strong presentation to be made concerning Hillary as Vice President. I waited a couple of weeks and after seeing only weak efforts by her supporters I offered the following which I think puts her case better than her own supporters have to date. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/grantcart/79

But in the end it is an exclusive decision by the nominee and whoever he or she may be must be totally unencumbered when making the decision. This hamhanded attempt to build political pressure to do so will not succeed and will in fact be counterproductive.

It is very much like the Bosnia episode. The real story was better than the invention. Working with a successful President who carefully stewards the military forces of the United States so there is not a single combat death, Hillary Clinton and her daughter were completely able to visit a war zone without the thought of snipers. Hillary was the closest student of this.

In the same way her argument to be a Vice President is compelling and we have already agreed that it is so. It is her brass knuckle approach in the final days of her failed campaign that undermine party unity and as such her prospects to be the nominee for Vice President.

DC Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans announced minutes ago he’s throwing his support behind Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Evans had been a longtime Hillary Clinton supporter, co-chairing her campaign in the District. Earlier this month, he’d been elected by local Democrats to serve as an at-large delegate pledged to Clinton.
Asked to explain his move, Evans cited “just the momentum that was going behind it.” He says he left a message with the Clinton campaign about the decision but was not able to speak with the senator before making the announcement today. - Washington City Paper


Evans said he switched his support because Ward 2 overwhelmingly voted for Obama in the District primary in February. He said he is most concerned about having a Democratic White House. - Washington Post

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Another winner, GC!

:kick:

All I can say is this movie is creepy.

Creepy in the way that you have De Ja Vu all over again.

Both my wife and I cringed when we saw the line "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin".

There was another quote that was verbatim from the current Hillary campaign, but I leave that as an exercise for the reader.

Aloha!

Maybe they've been this way all along. And I just didn't see it.

There seem to be counter-currents working that suggest that something is happening behind the scenes - the lack of personal attacks by Clinton herself, the deals to work together on the campaign, etc. There may be a compromise in the works that will be sprung on us soon. I am hoping that what we are seeing at the moment is a pressure tactic designed to extract more concessions from the Clinton campaign.

Unfortunately if you look upthread you can see that the Clinton's have gone full press to sabotage a compromise on FL and MI.

You will also notice here there is a comprehensive assault on caucuses. Since they lost them all they are going to argue that caucuses are all inherently undemocratic.

Ultimately however the more they try and force the issue the more they lose.

By not agreeing to the Michigan compromise she ended up losing 4 Michigan Super Delegates. She also lost another Clinton super delegate tonight and she lost another pledged delegate from Nevada State Convention.

But the question is - will she try and start a 'draft Hillary' movement at the convention to get her on the ticket as VP?

vote between them because they were not to campaign in either and they signed onto those rules a split any other way would be ludicrous.

maybe the voters who just plain don't like him.

:eyes:

It's not extortion. It's negotiation.

Do you really want to trample over Hillary supporters in the same way that Bushney et al have spent the last 7 years trampling over Gore and Kerry supporters?!?

If so, that makes you no better than the rw nutcases that abused us all for 7 years. :mad:

Doubtless, behind the scenes there are discussions between both sides to see what job she'll be best suited to. Maybe not VP, but maybe something equally good for the country. Senate Majority Leader...juicy cabinet post...any number of possibilities.

She has a strong constituency behind her. Only slightly smaller than Obama's...especially if you include the people who voted for her in Florida. She's simply playing her hand out instead of folding and quitting. That's NORMAL people. It's one thing to bow out with a tiny following of, say, 4%. It's another thing when you have a large group of backers.

Or are you saying that because Florida's leaders effed up, the *people* of Florida deserve to be totally ignored?

That because a slim majority sided with Obama, Hillary supporters can eat shit and die?

That because Obama wins by a small majority, she she shut up and sit down like a good girl?

You either follow Obama's message of unity or you don't. And if you don't you will end up paying dearly in November. There are a LOT of Hillary supporters who will sit it out if they're shut out and there are a LOT of republicans who hate McCain and would vote for Hillary over Obama, but will NEVER vote for Obama. You need Hillary supporters. Telling them to shut up and fold their hands will NEVER win their support.

And as much as I'd LOVE to ram a 100% democrat ticket down the collective rw's throats so far that the new pres and vp spend 8 years waving out their collective butts, a veto-proof majority in congress will be almost as good.

"There are a LOT of Hillary supporters who will sit it out if they're shut out and there are a LOT of republicans who hate McCain and would vote for Hillary over Obama, but will NEVER vote for Obama."

As far as I know, second place doesn't win the race. Ask Edwards, Biden, Dodd, Kucinich, et al. You speak as if Hillary has some inherent right to demand a place on the ticket. She was probably an okay candidate, but the people she chose to run her campaign, have let her down miserably. You don't run the worst campaign in political history, and make demands.

Why do you think Edwards took sooo long to endorse one candidate or the other?

He used his miniscule 19 delegates to "buy" himself goodwill and a good job with the winner. But he waited until he was sure who would win...and continued to wait. ONLY whenthe time was right did he pull out his endorsement...at the moment when it would have the best use politically.

Obama used Edward's endorsement to undercut Hillary's 40 point obliteration in W. Virginia.

THAT is politics and they ALL do it ALL the time.

Yes, Obama ran a brilliant campaign. Hillary's campaign made early strategic blunders and then she waited too long to fire the campaign manager that blew it and hire one. She hit her stride, but too late to win.

That doesn't mean she's a horrible person. It also doesn't mean she's obligated to hand her endorsement of a couple hundred delegates over in exchange for nothing.

The premise of the OP which you neglect to face is that BY THE CLINTONS OWN PARAMETERS THE RACE HAS BEEN LONG OVER. Because of the proportional system of distribution of delegates once a candidate has a lead it becomes almost impossible to catch up in a two person race. This isn't my opinion it is the opinion of the Clinton camp.

This is why Hillary predicted back in December that it wouldn't go beyond Super Tuesday. She was basically right its just that she didn't win.

Obama starts with a lead in January and increases the lead every month afterwards. Hillary doesn't have to 'stay close' she has to out perform him. This is the reasons for the 'firewalls' that the Clinton campaign promoted. The problem was that Obama either won the firewalls (Wisconsin) by landslide or they were tied with Obama actuallly gaining in delegates (Indiana, Texas). Bill Clinton ina fit of honesty clearly stated that she had to win in Texas to continue to be viable. She lost the delegate race in Texas.

The Clinton has been aware of this and here is Sen Schumer's statement



http://www.observer.com/2008/schumer-avoiding-self-destructive-end-clinton-vs-obama


I interviewed Chuck Schumer for a story in this week’s paper about the state of the Clinton campaign, and he told me a couple of things that may turn out to be important as her aides reportedly weigh some potentially “incendiary” end-game strategies.

When I asked if he would definitely stay committed to Clinton, Schumer said, "Definitely. She won my state. I know how good she is. I was the first Senator to support her."

But he also said he doubted that one candidate would stay on long after it became clear he or she could not win the nomination.

"The number one thing that people worry about is that the candidates will cut each other up and make it harder to win the general," he said. "But I think that is not going to happen. Because everyone cares about winning so much. Not only the candidates, but the electorate. So if one candidate is doing something that is regarded as really self-destructive, of the ability to win, that's really going to hurt them."

"It would widely be regarded negatively in the electorate," he said.

Obviously, this isn’t to suggest, as the Obama campaign has, that there’s no legitimate way for Hillary Clinton to come back from her recent string of defeats. And the definition of “something that is regarded as really self-destructive” will vary widely, depending on who’s plotting the self-destructive act in question. But it’s worth keeping in mind if and when the Clinton campaign is faced with the choice of whether or not to try to win this thing based on superdelegates or the results of noncompetitive primaries in Florida and Michigan.

Schumer also suggested that the current system of awarding pledged delegates is flawed. "The delegate counts are so close, and you can win a state by quite a lot and you still don't win the delegates by quite a lot,” he said. "Maybe that's a flawed system. But that will be for the next election, not this one.

"I think if you win a district 55 to 45," he said. "The delegates shouldn't be three to three. Yes, I think proportional representation makes some sense but they sort of overdid it."




Sounds like what a lot of people are saying now, right? The date on the article? February 14th.




Negotiation - what negotiation? That is what makes it extortion - reply # 65 details how the Clinton campaign is undermining negotiation on the FL and MI question.

that went on with Obama and Edwards, but from a different position.

Edwards clearly had no chance early on, so dropped out with only 19 delegates. But he didn't jump on anybody's bandwagon.

Both sides wooed Edwards for months. He held off until there was a clear winner and went with the winner. In all likelihood, he will now get a plum assignment in the new administration.

Hillary's in a different position, since there isn't another side to woo her. BUT, unlike Edward's palty 19 delegates, she has quite a few.

Obviously not enough to win. But enough that the party simply can't afford to blow her off. Why the hell shouldn't she use her delegates and time to negotiate herself a plum position? That's what they all do, all the time.

Furthermore, her one consistent message has been *let everybody have a chance to vote.*

Why should the last states be blown off as if their opinion is irrelevent? There is a *lot* to be gained for the party by keeping the campaign going. Not only does it suck oxygen away from McSame, as long as people believe she has a chance, it makes their votes count. It increases turnout, which will be very important in the GE. A blowout election with a landslide victory will be very sweet indeed. I think that Hillary continuing to the end will help to create that scenario.

she is not negotiating she is demanding and she is upping up the temperature


There is no sign of negotiation.

I don't want HRC near the WH in '09, except perhaps in a cabinet role. I don't want her to be Obama's righthand man/woman. I have come to distrust & despise her and her husband, and I say that as someone who's been a longtime supporter and defender of the Clintons. I really couldn't understand why she was loathed by the "Clinton Haters", but now I get it.

I hope to God or Goddess that she can't officially be forced onto the ticket w/o Obama's express approval, and I don't think he'll go there.

The so-called problem getting votes from "hard-working" whites has less to do with race than indigenous culture. I was waiting for the story to get picked up more widely, but editors probably think that hard-thinking Americans might already see through the simplistic storytales they've been getting told. Either that, or they (the media) don't want to appear too intellectual, or they'll get labeled "elite."

What amazes me most about this race is Clinton's undying need to always have it both ways. If I were a betting person, I would say she went to bed one night a Democrat and woke up the next a Rovarian beast (and that beats Machievelli and Republican). The Republicans are already saying it themselves: she's handed them the play book for the fall.

By the way, has McCain no self-respect left at all. He was pathetic on SNL; not that I think he has any business going on there in the first place (generationally inappropriate).

I think they have multiple plans.

1. VP for Hillary. In OH, the rumor was that Hillary would take VP b/c she would be in the catbird seat b/c they think Obama will really be another JFK.
2. Hillary hack as VP. If Obama wins but can't carry out his term, Hillary is picked as VP. If Obama loses, Hillary won't face a strong VP candidate running in 2012.
3. Hillary in 2012. Let's beat up Obama, negatively define him (e.g., as an elitist who thinks he's better than you), say McCain is more qualified, play the victim and gender card so that many of our supporters will vote for McCain (b/c we've already said he was better than Obama), and piss off FL and MI voters. Then in the final phase we'll preach unity and our supporters will say "after being victimized by Obama and the DNC the Clintons are still fighting for the party....."

K&R! :kick:

Spot on as usual, grantcart. Kick!