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Bob Franken

Bob Franken

Posted: March 28, 2008 10:43 AM

Antagonism Realism


Have you noticed that Mitt Romney is John McCain's new best buddy? That might overstate things just a tiny bit, but there they are, campaigning together... at least fundraising together.

It seemed it was just yesterday that the two made no secret of the fact they considered each other pond scum. As we know, McCain won that dissing match, but now he needs money. Romney has friends with money, particularly in the Mormon west. Mitt? He seems to have decided that Vice President Romney has a nice ring to it. New shared goals overcome old animosities every time.

Republicans though they may be, McCain and Romney are actually saying a lot about the Democratic party.

There is so much hand-wringing by Democrats these days over how the intense Clinton-Obama battle might cause such hard feelings that the party might be torn asunder, or something like that. There are dire warnings it might unable to get its act together or factions together in the general election if they continue their nasty fight in the primaries.

Really. Isn't that a bit melodramatic?

Like John McCain, surely the Democratic winner, even after a bloody battle for the nomination, has every reason to expect that the entire party will rally around its common purpose, which is to drive the Republicans out of Washington. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". Or whatever.

Any Democrat who is so bent out of shape that he or she threatens not to back the party's standard bearer is simply being petulant. They're acting like Ann Coulter or the other conservatives who say they're going to bail on McCain.

They're also just as full of it. This election is more about being against someone than about being for someone. Democrats and Republicans alike are horrified by the thought the other side would win. That's the kind of fear that can motivate all the true disbelievers to rally around, combine resources and set the old grievances aside for another day. Grudges can always settled for later, once the common enemy is defeated.

Nothing covers up bruised feelings like expedience. Is that heavy or what? Actually, it's just politics.

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01:01 PM on 03/30/2008
Franken, you have omitted (O'Mitt-ed?) an important point. Romney bowed out when it became obvious he would not get the nomination. Sure, McCain and Romney were tough on each other, but when it came time to act for the good of the party, Romney gave it up to the party.

By contrast, all the justifications not withstanding, Clinton is running as if no consequence matters except to win the nomination, it being clear already that she cannot. It is a huge difference.
03:06 PM on 03/28/2008
You heard it here first- within six months of a McCain/Romney victory in the general, McCain will have a sudden heart attack and Mitt will be president for the bulk of McCain's term.
04:25 PM on 03/28/2008
There will be a vast right wing conspiracy to try and see that something happens to McCain so that Romney can take over. Oh what a nightmare that'll be.
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02:46 PM on 03/28/2008
How about Lieberman as McCain's choice for veep? He would be able to proclaim "uniter not divider" status and have a 24/7 minder. Romney helps you win states you were going to win anyway (though Colorado may be in play). McCain/Lieberman would be an unstoppable train to right back where we are. Sadly, it would appeal to a great number of the electorate. Forget I even brought it up.

I can see Obama putting forth Richardson though I haven't really thought it through. I'm unable to figure out who Clinton might look to. Who would want Bill looking over their shoulder all the time? Hmm, maybe she'll nominate Bill. Ouch. All that far-fetched Clinton/Obama - Obama/Clinton has hopefully run its course.
01:57 PM on 03/28/2008
It won't surprise me one bit if McCain picks Romney as his running mate. No matter how much he hates him, McCain has to see how much having Romney on the ticket helps him. Romney appeals to the conservative base that doesn't like McCain. Romney is strong when it comes to talking about the economy, which is fast becoming the biggest issue of this campaign. McCain doesn't seem to have a clue about the economy. Romney has also served as a governor of a major state and therefore brings executive experience that McCain lacks. Lastly, Romney is a lot younger than McCain and helps win over people who are afraid of having a President in his 70s. It also sends a message to the public that the Republicans can set aside their differences while Democrats can't. We'll never see an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket, thanks largely to how the Clintons have campaigned. Clinton won't back Obama if he's the nominee. Her strategy is the same as the one she had in 2004. Sit back, watch the Democratic nominee lose, and run in 4 years.
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fairwitness
Not content with stunned disbelief
12:09 PM on 03/28/2008
When, after the electoral process has run to the point where one candidate cannot win except by destroying the other or subverting the system, that candidate can choose to be fatally destructive by necessity (cannot win otherwise), and cause immeasureable harm, or yield to political reality in the interest of the sucess of those represented.

Is Hillary's hubris and sense of entitlement of such magnitude that she cares nothing for its effects on those she sought ot lead? Does her desperate desire for personal glory blind her, a supposedly consumate politian, to even political reality?

Apparently so. She creates enemys without compunction, spreads damage without remorse. I always considered it a hyperbolic epithet, but I have come to see the truth that, "Hell hath no fury...". Hillary is now the personification of a fury born of scorn for her unethical and destructive tactics.

Who needs another fearful, aggressive, unethical, destructive, blind and, yes, narcissitic president?
08:14 PM on 03/29/2008
Not me.