Scheduled: Hillary's Convention Catharsis

Now that Hillary Clinton's name will be placed into nomination at the Democratic National Convention, heads up everyone: Maureen Dowd's next over-the-top, anti-Hillary column is coming.

Dowd is the op-ed columnist for the New York Times that Slate calls "the driver, navigator, and chief mechanic on the Hillary Hate Bus."

Does that seem harsh? Earlier this summer when Hillary Clinton supporters asked the Democratic National Convention of Women to address the "pervasive gender bias in the media" exposed during the primaries, Dowd called the request an attempt to "enshrine a whine."

Huffington Post's Adele Stan counter-punched, calling Dowd's comment "another bad moment for women."

How are the voters reacting to the news of a traditional roll call for Clinton in Denver?

"She and her supporters worked hard to earn this," Bill Herron told OffTheBus. "The endless primary process is way too long, way too tough on the candidates and their families, and way too expensive. The Republicans have a much better model."

Hillary Clinton herself suggested such a move would be cathartic for delegates, a necessary emotional rush and release that would bring the party together.

Blogger "parisblues" told OffTheBus that HRC seems determined to make herself into the Ralph Nader of 2008. Blogger "PumaAnn" says no, the floor vote is simply a way to give Clinton delegates the satisfaction of voting for Clinton, which is why they became her delegates in the first place.

Blogger "starfire426" says they should throw Clinton's name into nomination at both conventions and see which Party will choose her as their nominee. If neither, then Hill and Bill need to slink away and start their own kingdom.

What will the feisty Ms. Dowd say about this in her next breathless column? Stay tuned...

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Comments

[bigsioux]

Realistic and pragmatic approach? You mean like that gas tax holiday.

[DRaymond]

Putting Clinton's name in nomination will not hurt the party. Plenty of presidents of both parties have had opponents' names put in nomination. Neiter is a roll call vote. As boring as a roll call vote is it would be even more boring if there was only one name.(BTW convention planners, schedule the roll call for the morning or afternoon, NOT prime time.)

But what WILL hurt the party is a bunch of PUMA folks thinking that this is somehow not just a show of respect but shouting as loudly as they can about how Hillary is the only one that can beat McCain and how all the candidates should abandon sanity and change from Obama to Clinton at this way too late date.

[mjc]

This is for all of you Obamacons who think Obama is doing Hillary a favor by allowing her name to be placed in nomination: GET OVER IT! In every Democratic Party convention the loser with just a few or losers with many delegates are given a chance on the first ballot to have their name placed in nomination for a vote on whether or not he (and this was before Hillary) should be the nominee of the Party. This was a very, very close primary process and Obama would not have won the delegates without the shennigans in re Michigan and Florida sponsored by the DNC and its leadership, Coward Dean and Donna Brazile. But the process this time is right out of the neocon playbook and so it will probably be a "symbolic" gesture more than anything. Watching the Democratic Party go down will be gut wrenching but there might be salvation in a new democratic party or in the Republicans.

[Rotwang]

You know, you're never going to win us over if you keep calling us "Obamacons." You should really work on your wooing skills.

[prattvictory]

I never want to hear the words Clinton and candidate uttered again in the same breath. I voted for him twice. The Clintons the the DLC should go find some island somewhere. And take Joe Lieberman with them.

[TRichards]

Great idea. Make the convention a Clinton showcase and kill the bump.

The Democrats sure are good at finding ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[AdobePhsyko]

Why Won't Hillary Just GO AWAY ?

[docgirl0425]

Great insight. I was not a Hillary supporter, but I must admit, I miss her presence in the campaign. She added a realistic and pragmatic approach to some of the issues that Obama and McCain just can't seem to embrace. Since she's been gone we've been left with two less-than inspiring candidates. I fear it's going to be dullsville all the way to November. A third party candidate anyone?

[Daisy1111]

In 2004 D e an was placed on the convention ballot for the first round vote.

And he had far fewer delegates than she.

No one seemed to think he was trying to steal anything from Ke r r y.

I hate to break it to you but putting her name on are in the D N C rules.

[csepwede]

About this so-called "catharsis." All that will happen is that she'll have less delegates than she entered with.

And Obama will be the nominee.

it's just drama for drama's sake.

[waverly]

After Hillary and Bill's speeches, after having Hillary's name placed in nomination, and after the convention, I doubt very much that the irate Hillary supporters will vote for Obama.

I believe there are deeper reasons for not voting for Obama and they use Hillary as their pretense. I hope they prove me wrong.

[yallkiddn]

I think you're right.

[jackstpaul]

Give Hillary a night to speak She should, obviously. Give Bill a night? Someone who can't even bring himself to say Obama's qualified. Give Hillary more time and attention as her names is placed in nomination. That’s hours of Clinton’s as the focus. And Chelsea introduces Hillary. That's time that could have been used to let someone truly important to speak. In particular it would be an opportunity to show unity if a major Obama backer introduced Hillary.

4 Clinton speeches--Hillary, Hillary at roll call, Bill and Chelsea.

Gore? Kerry? Daschle? Richardson? Ted K. via video if not in person? Caroline Kennedy? That shows unity, and the way that women can be supportive of each other, and players in the Party, even though Kennedy didn’t support Hillary. John Conyers? It sounds like a very white convention. Sebiliuos?

This convention is supposed to be about Obama.

Hillary's getting what she wants--almost; she wants to be the nominee--by extorting Obama with the idea that she'll encourage her supporters to disrupt things and not work hard for him. And to let Bill run wild as at best, someone unable to come out and support Obama--in real; terms, and at worst as someone trying to undermine Obama.

It's another pathetic display of Clinton narcissism.

Be respectful Hillary. Accept reality. Get a Dem. elected in Nov.

[UWorlds1]

It is surprising that no blacks are major speakers (besides Obama of course. We have contributed alot to the DNC.

[mjc]

UWorlds1, you can call it "being used". Opportunism requires EVERYONE to give up something so that the ONE can get the nomination.

[mjc]

Along with Wesley Clark, the Obama campaign also threw John Conyers under the bus: why? The answer to that is quite simple: both supported Hillary Clinton and Clark would do lip syncing with Barack Obama.

[BatedBreath]

I will be surprised if the vote goes smoothly and acts as a catharsis. Perhaps her delegates are more rational than some of her die-hard supporters who post on blogs. I have to agree with MoDo when she says the vote is to enshrine the whine.

It becomes clear why women haven't gotten farther in the world outside the home when they overreact so emotionally for so long when ithe issue is a part of life. You win some and you lose some, but you don't go around blaming others for your loss. I am a woman and I have had it with Hillary's embittered supporters, especially the ones who denigrate the Party's nominee.

[Cakey4814]

Tucker's healine.."Hillary set to Rock the convention" and you wonder why Obama supporters are leery of this woman and her husband? Obama is the nominee and should be the only one "rocking the convention" but you obviously have some inside track on Hillary and her supporters..my gawd..you quoted "PumaAnn" in your column and you have the audacity to criticize Dowd? You and the PumaAnn's of the world go ahead and gloat over Hillary "rocking" the convention and see what happens..

[blaqntelligence]

I for one am tired of the "catharsis" B S.

I wonder are they aware of the mental images the word catharsis conjures?

Personally, it brings to mind an enema and its resultant “cathartic.... rush and release...".
About the same opinion I have for these puma pukes and their attempted coup of this presidential election.

[ShanniC]

I am a woman, but I do not support Hillary's campaign. Yes there was gender bias in this election, but there was also racial bias, (of which Hillary played a part). It's time to get over these bitter feelings some people may have about this past primary season. The bottom line is that Hillary lost. Yes, she LOST! We need to unite as Americans. Independents, Republicans, and Democrats need to stand together to take back this country. Hillary's loss is not worth the election of John McCain. It's time for the people with hurt feelings to realize that.

[messy]

What catharsis? No one had a choice in the matter. The roll call is the fact that the convention was called in the first place. They have to have it or what's the point of going?

FYI: there were roll call votes at the last few conventions, and last time out Dennis Kucinich recieved around fifty votes, despite the fact that several delegations wouldn't let 28 delegates vote for him and only let them register abstentions.