End It Now
There is a bizarre, and even tragic, unreality to the continuing drama playing out in the Democratic primary. Partly due to the seven-week gap between the first 42 contests and this week's match-up in Pennsylvania, and partly due to the tenacity and temerity of the Clintons, this election is being presented as close and not yet over.
But it is over.
Dragging it out any longer only serves to indulge the Clintons' narcissism, while damaging the Democratic party's chances for victory in November. A few observations:
First: The numbers are clear: Clinton cannot surpass Obama's elected delegate total in the contests that remain. It is not unlike a fifty-two lap motor race. In the first forty-three laps, Obama has passed her twice, and built up a lead that is insurmountable. Now, in the midst of the 44th lap, it only appears to be close, but it is not. The only way she could possibly win is either by changing the rules of the game in Michigan and Florida, or convincing a substantial number of superdelegates to cast their ballots for her -- overturning the results of the elections to date. Either of these two scenarios would cause a devastating upheaval within the party, bringing on what I call a "1968 moment."
Second: There is no doubt that the Democratic base has been energized by this election. The record number of voters, volunteers, and contributors point to this fact. But, at the same time, it is important to acknowledge that real damage is occurring within the Democratic constituency. Polls that show a growing fracture within the Democratic coalition should be read as cautionary signs to be heeded. Those Beltway pundits and party regulars who say "Don't worry, after the convention, Democrats will come together" are out of touch with the real damage that has been done in the minds of voters on both sides of the divide.
Early on, Senator Obama spoke eloquently about the degree to which cynicism had infected our politics, resulting in voters no longer believing what politicians have to say. Only those who did not understand his message, or heed the lesson he sought to teach, can believe that Hillary and Bill Clinton will be easily able to undo the negativity they have created. Some voters will surely ask, "Were they lying then, or are they lying now?"
Third: There is no doubt that Senator Clinton is a talented and an extraordinarily intelligent person. Her tragic flaw is her belief that only she is capable of leading. It is this that has caused her to engage in an effort to demean her opponent and engage in the kind of campaign that she once decried as "the politics of personal destruction." It is this that I call her narcissism, and the degree to which it has damaged not only the Democratic chances in November, but also her reputation -- defines the pathological self-destruction that so often follows from narcissistic behavior
This has gone on too long, and should end now. Former President Clinton has argued that all the states should be given a chance to vote. They should have that chance. And, if this campaign were focused on issues and a debate over competing visions of leadership, I would say, "Let it continue."
But this has not been the case. Given the behavior of the Clinton campaign to date, and the expectation this behavior will continue, I believe that prolonging this agony will only create deeper division. For this reason, it should end now.
My fellow superdelegates should wait no longer. As party leaders, we are uniquely positioned, and have the responsibility, to speak out. Indecision only serves to enable bad behavior. It is time for us to either demand that the behavior change, or act to end this now.
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to the Pennsylvania Primary results
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Thank YOU, Mr. Zogby — what a breath of fresh air .
Fresh air? That's one of the serious problems in this country right now! . Many have come to believe that the putrid, biased, oppressive, self-serving and calculating smell in the media is fresh air!
Funny, not one word on HuffPo re: Hillary raising 10 million bucks in 24 hours.
The tank is getting deeper.
It's right there on the front page of the politics section, and has been all morning.
Clinton supporters have learned well from their champion how to loie and distort. Haven't we had enough of that crap for the past seven years with the Bush debacle. We have a chance to recover our country in this election. Let's not blow it by having more of the same.
It's on the front page, dude. It won't make a difference.
The 10 million dollars in 24 hours is another Clinton lie, it didn't happen and likely won't happen in time to help her in Indiana. None of it matters, though, the Clintons have made a farce of the American pollitical system and the people who should be stopping them will put no more effort into that than the mealy mouthed members of the Senate who declined to remove him from office when he was impeached. Some may remember the days when J. Edgar Hoover had dossiers on every member of Congress, the presidents and their cabinets, the chances are good that the Clintons make his efforts look mild in comparison. The files the Clintons obtained from the FBI during Bill's tenure were likely a small portion of what they did get, who knows what they hold, like the Sword of Damocles, over the head of the superdelegates.
All of the other candidates running for the Dem nomination have had the good sense and wisdom to drop out when they faced the facts of the numbers. A couple of them dropped out despite a strong showing of support from their backers. They were doing what was right for the whole party, not just their own personal ambitions.
After Super Tuesday, Hillary should have followed suit. The Dem party could have had a strong platform for presenting McCain as a 'stay the course', more of bush's policies follower.
Instead, Hillary is dragging us all through the mud and seriously jeopardizing what should be an easy victory in Nov.
I am soooo sick and tired of selfish and/or ignorant people ruining our country.
...ever consider that your attitude is selfish and ignorant - trying to stop this woman candidate before it's anywhere near over? There are no previous presidents for this kind of election! Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are now setting new presidents and that's the kind of thing that makes this country VITAL!
Something has become blaringly obvious lately. The media pundits and bloggers (notably everyone in here, on DailyKos..
In their world, they (people who act and think like them) make up the majority. They think everyone is anti-Clinton and in favor of her pulling out. They don't understand who is supporting her, and at best they think it is nothing more than a few zealouts.
Well the truth is obviously otherwise. Half, yes HALF of the party wan'ts her, and has voted for her. Can you people understand that? Not just a few die-hard supporters, but 15 million people!
Just becaue older people, and some blue collar folks don't blog and don't have a voice on the talk shows... doesn't mean they don't exist and don't matter. Their votes count just as much as yours.
This is the reality people, and this is why Hillary is still in the race.
If Hillary really had half of the delegates, we wouldn't be having this conversation. She's behind by 5.5%.
We are not done counting yet and there is the matter of Florida and Michigan to be
resolved. With Florida and Michigan votes counted, she moves ahead of Obama in the popular votes.....
count in November, when they go for McCain because those people have been
disenfrachised.
So many people asking her to drop out. You'd think she'd get the hint.
Your math doesn't work. Half is 50%. She doesn't have half. Your reality is to count votes that were agreed upon by all of the candidates not to count. She's also now changed her story saying the popular vote is what counts. Read this and tell me she's not playing games:
WOLFSON: I guess one other thing I'd add is that, as you know, this is a race for delegates.
MCAULIFFE: And at the end of the day it's getting a basket of delegates.
MCAULIFFE: I have always said that this thing would be over on February 5th. I believe it. With so many delegates in play on February 5th, I think that, barring something I can't foresee today, I think it's over on February 5th.
WOLFSON:And we have said since Iowa that this is a race for delegates. It's a race that we are ahead in. We have more delegates than Senator Obama.
CECIL: Well, our goal at the end of last night was to be ahead in super delegates and overall delegates. And, in fact, this morning, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama in delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
WOLFSON: We think that we are in the poll position because we have a lead, overall, in delegates. We think it is going to be very difficult for Senator Obama to make up that lead because of the way in which the party allocates its delegates proportionately.
When the numbers don't work for her, she uses another equation. NONSENSE.
No sense quibbling at this point about a little math and especially when the calculations are being made before the RACE IS OVER! This "math" argument is now outdated and frankly OLD! We need fresh thinking now! We all know that neither of these candidates are going to get the number of delegates to win - and as a result it will require the critical thinking and visionary calculations of the super delegates since that's the process in this country at this time! Get rid of them later, if you don't like it! But for now, that's what we've got! And further, HRC IS very likely to have the POPULAR vote in the end which is not only a VIABLE selling point but a critical and valuable indicator if Democrats want to lead this country for the next 4-8 years and turn around this horror created by the Republicans!!!
Perhaps YOU are ONE OF THOSE who liked the fact that HALF of "We the People" were ripped off in the last election, too?! Yes, GWB and many of the Republicans have set up unending presidents and horrors in this country and in this world which will TAKE a VERY long time to turn around!!!
If half of Democrats voted for Hillary, why is she so far behind in delegates and popular vote? Are you saying that the numbers are not reality? What then is reality? No matter how much you love Hillary, it doesn't change the numbers.
Besides, her argument isn't that she is winning by delegate count or popular vote, its that Obama isn't electable. Exit polls revealed racism as a component of anti-Obama sentiment, how sad. Ugly racism is still alive in the Democratic Party! Silly me, I thought we had moved beyond such petty, destructive beliefs.
By the way, I am an older working class person.
Racism while obviously still alive and trying to maintain a life in this country is obviously ALSO and gratefully dying out and yes, this has much to do about Obama being a candidate and the country watching and participating in this campaign debate! Yeah, Obama for being willing to stand up to the heat because it ALWAYS takes a pioneer to break through these very OLD IDEAS!
BUT we also have a woman candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton who is standing up to the fire and enduring as well! SEXISM, hatred and fear of women (misogyny) is also ALIVE and doing it's best to gain ground in this country and there is FAR LESS support to overcome this huge and ongoing injustice as well! It's up to YOU and all of us to not loose sight of this psychologically violent tragedy and DO something about it! We have daughters to consider and yes, even sons to consider because SEXISM - just like RACISM hurts all of us!
Thank you Heidfeld!
Me thinks Hillary thinks she is Moses waiting for God to part the sea so she can get to the promised land of the presidency before Obama runs her to ground.
Mudfiles said: "If Clinton doesn't have good enough judgement to see that she can't win, then why should we trust her judgement to run a country?"
This seems like such patently obvious logic that I am unsure why we're having all this hue and cry about super-delegates, polls, voter's voices being heard, etc etc . The Clintons have always maintained a fiercely guarded legacy of entitlement, this election has underscored it, perhaps more than ever in their shared history with our nation. What Billary doesn't seem to grasp is that all this mayhem is taking a toll, digging a trench for whomever secures the Dem nom, because McBush et al will be turning our own gun on us. Soon.
Of course the vox populi must be counted, must be exercised, but common sense must prevail for the good of the party, that is, if this election doesn't decimate it beyond repair. I predict this brou-ha-ha will spawn a whole new generation of independents, which may not be such a tragedy at the end of the day.
In case you haven't noticed - EVERYONE (short of very few rules) is ENTITLED to run for President of the U.S. and ENTITLED to make every attempt at winning, too! Why would you or so many want to destroy this idea of "entitlement" and in doing so destroy the very concept of the American Dream! These are two people, two U.S. citizens who happened to decide that they wanted to make a difference with a career in POLITICS and in this country we actually DO have this thing called the "American Dream!" The pursuit of the Presidency is no exception! Bill Clinton - Hillary Rodham are individual people - individual U.S. citizens ( NOT CLONES of each other) who have every right to choose and believe and yes ARE ENTITLED TO THIS PURSUIT as ALL of us "We the People" in this country at this time if we think we are strong enough, talented, intelligent and capable enough, and certainly tenacious enough to endure in this so called democratic process that it seems so many people want to destroy!
This election, like 2000 was, is crucial. There is too much at stake for all of this party in-fighting. Obama has held a clear lead from the beginning; Hillary should face up to that, and for the good of the party and the country, drop out.
That she doesn't says a lot about her right there.
What I find fascinating is that the Clintons have over a $100 million in the bank, but yet they are asking their voters who are struggling to keep their jobs, gas in the tank, and food on their table, to donate to their sinking ship. IF Hillary had so much confidence in her ability to win, why isn't she investing her own money to the cause? As an American, I am expected to pay my own bills. She is in debt. She owes Penn and many others money, and she is asking for her voters to pay her bills. Now that's a women I want as a President! Not! Clintonspeak manipulati
She already put up 5 mill. As opposed to Obama who has over a million DONORS averaging less than 100 dollars each! that is how he is outspending her. Because so many in this country believe in him. And they make this son of a single mother, who went to school on scholarships, an elitist? These millionaires? the gall is astounding.
I sent a lot of money to the Clintons during impeachment. I used to be a huge fan. I was a charter member of Move on which was FORMED to fight the unfair impeachment of the Clintons.
But it is so clear that they have sold out now. I will never vote for him or her for dogcatcher after this insane campaign.
I hope Obama can get over his well bred, polite reticence to attack a woman and give her some of her own medicine, ASAP before this goes any further. This narcissistic, egomaniac of a woman makes me embarrassed as a feminist. I'll never vote for her.
WE ALL KNOW that the Republicans will be all over the Blue Dress and the Cigar. remember Ken Starr? MCGrandad will make a pretense of trying to stop the 527's but Oh well, they wouldn't listen to me, what can I do,,, just like NC this wk.
You think its crazy now, wait til (Goddess forbid) Hill gets the nom and we have to listen to the ugliness of the Clintonian sex life all over again for months.
I think it's OUTRAGEOUS that you call HRC's participation in this campaign narcissistic! That you then lump and reduce her further by not respecting her individual candidacy but choose to re-enforce the other oppressive media voices - who want to further impose their belief's that Hillary could not have her own life - own aspirations, own candidacy - own career pursuits - and SEPARATE from her husband? Is that how your relationship works? Surely one can have a partnership without being CLONES of each other! That you cannot see her as an individual and viable candidate in this context is not surprising!
But what about this Mr. Zogby! AT LEAST HALF of this population of "WE THE PEOPLE" WANT HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON to be nominated! For us she is a reflection of strength, yes tenacity, talent, intelligence, endurance and someone who has a REAL plan for this country! And "WE THE PEOPLE" WANT HER to WIN! Many of us have contributed and invested in her candidacy! Are YOU trying to DERAIL US, too? "WE THE PEOPLE" too! Or are you simply another whining Obama supporter who has always wanted this election to be simply GIVEN to him at any cost including half of "WE THE PEOPLE?!"
If you don't think the Democratic Party can handle this kind of valuable and evolutionary STRUGGLE which in many ways is educating and teaching EVERYONE, then maybe as a journalist you should BOW OUT for now! Because that is the REAL NEGATIVE in this
If Hillary really had half of the delegates, we wouldn't be having this conversation. She's behind by 5.5%.
Where do you get off by saying at least half of the population want Clinton to be nominated? Do those numbers come from the Clinton campaign?
Exactly right on! Thanks for the great post.
"I think it's OUTRAGEOUS that you call HRC's participation in this campaign narcissistic! "
At the moment, Hillary's run has become exactly as narcissistic are Ralph Nader's
Here is the reality regardless if you support Clinton, or Obama. In January the DNC signed off on a agreement that said the delegates in Florida and Michigan would not count, because of a breaking of DNC rules. It was an agreement that Hillary herself signed off on when she was in the lead I might add. The candidates agreed they wouldn't campaign in these two states.
Obama did not campaign in either state as agreed, his name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan. Fast forward to April, when after running an absolutely terrible caucus strategy, Hillary is behind in every measurable metric that counts, she now wants to all of a sudden count the votes that she originally agreed wouldn't count?
If the DNC comes up with some way to seat the delegates that is fine. But for this woman to sit there with a straight face and actually declare she is ahead in the popular vote is above disingenuous.
Here is the bottom line...Hil
But to spilt hairs, adjust positions and truths, to win this nomination irrespective of rules, diminishes her credibilty to a knub. They say if you lie enough, you actually believe it's true. It's obviously the Utopia that Senator Clinton exists in.
No, the reality is that after a 5 year study the DNC determined that (note order) Iowa, Nevada, NH and SC were to vote between Jan 14 and Jan 29. All states signed on. Mi had asked to be among the top 4. THEN NH leapfrogged over Nevada. And Iowa, NH, Nevada all changed their dates and kept moving up the dates. So why let that happen? Why punish FL and MI and not the others. After all, they all broke the rules.
As for MI, Obama took his name off the ballot (he did not have to) then his supporters ran a campaign for people to vote for uncommitted.
Only one candidate ran ads on cable in FL prior to the primary. Check out which one. It is public record. It was not Clinton.
Entitlement . Lying. WHO?
Fact: From the Washington Post, January 30th:
Clinton announced plans for the Florida celebration on Sunday [January 27th, before the Florida primary], the same day she held a trio of fundraisers in Florida and accepted the endorsement of the Miami mayor while pressing some flesh for the cameras. On Monday, her campaign claimed the endorsement of Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, while pro-Clinton unions continued sending out mailings in her support.
All of this sounded suspiciously like campaigning. But aides said they were merely trying to protect the people of Florida who, despite the campaign's "scrupulous" refusal to campaign in the state, showed up to vote for Clinton anyway.
REPUBLICANS changed the rules in Florida! And no surprise! Republican pursuits and ideals have RUINED THIS COUNTRY and caused havoc , real - not imagined economic insecurity, more poverty, the death of many valuable human beings in our military, the torment, destruction and death in other countries which of course the world now HATES us for!!!! And many don't give one damn either! Now that's who we ought to be pointing the finger at........
Mr Zogby, first I'd like to apologize to you for some of the people who have posted with disrespect to you and what you do. Its funny, but this is exactly the problem with politics today. People can be nasty, disrespectful, and its not only tolerated but EXPECTED! I started this election totally open to both Obama and Clinton (in fact I kind of leaned Clinton due to her stance on health care). Seeing the kind of campaign she has run, and the way she seems to 'talk down' to voters the smear tactics she has turned to...it just disgusts me.. Where are the issues? I'd like to know what the candidates think of the Fair Tax, not who they associated with 10 years ago for 10min. Two words...RE
Ditto.....
Very artfully written, but one must however be under the constant awareness that in order for this type of logic to appeal to the Democratic party leadership, the Democratic voters themselves must be logical. An impossible mountain to climb given the level of ignorance of the average voter. So this debacle of a primary race will go on destroying all hope of a Democrat winning in November. Hillary Clinton is a tragedy for American politics. She has set the nation back 10 years, at least. I was an Edwards supporter, and I wish to God he was still in this race, he dropped out far too early. He did so for the good of the party, but alas, it was all for not. If only Hillary Clinton had half of his character, the Democrats would have a chance.
With all due respect valleygent - the differance between you and Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeing that mountain differently. She remains hopeful in the face of diversity and continues to climb! Some people who feel downtrodden give up before the race is over - some people view this highly evolutionary struggle as a negative instead of positive. Some people get frightened and make decisions that their candidate is not strong enough to sustain the adversity instead of believing in and remaining positive about their candidate! Hillary Rodham Clinton embodies Winston Churchill's belief as many of us do - and one that seems a requirment to achieve the "American Dream." "Never give up! Never give up! Never! Never! Never!"
Keep going HIllary! We're going to ALL come out of this better people in a better country because we DARED to DREAM and struggle to overcome the negatives while so many others couldn't see it, wanted to give up, feared they wouldn't win and as a result discouraged us! BECAUSE even if you don't happen to win - YOU have ALREADY made a HUGE and POSITIVE differance! The next woman won't have to go through anywhere near what you have endured!!! And I for ONE thank you for your 35 years of pioneering efforts!
It isn't over, Zogby, and your wishing it were doesn't make it so. Back off!!
If their positions were reversed - Hill would be singing a different tune.
*
Zogby's logic, and his analogy to the car race, is flawed. A racer two laps behind can still win the race -- it's happened in car racing, and it's happened in politics. But Clinton need not finish the race ahead of Obama to win the nomination.
Obama will almost assuredly have a plurality of the votes, but not a majority. Under Convention rules, Hillary could still be the nominee even if Obama has more delegate votes. If Dems believe decided its candidate at its Convention is damaging to itself, then they should change their rules accordingly. (Clinton is in a similar position to John Quincy Adams, who had less electoral college votes than his opponent, but because neither had a majority, the Congress selected the President, and Adams won.)
That we believe the Convention is only a PR event, and not the venue for selecting the Dem nominee, sadly demonstrates how much we've become a country of image over substance. If Hillary gains votes by mudslinging, and Obama feels compelled to respond in kind, and that damages the Party -- well, then the Dems get exactly what they deserve. If image continues to win out over substance, McCain will be our next President, we will escalate our aggressive nation building, and the world will know that the horrors inflicted by W was not an electoral aberration, but reflective of the true soul of Americans.
I want to weigh in on this. While I think that HRC has the 'right' to continue in her quest for the nomination, she is wrong in doing it the way she has. She has run a negative campaign, while Obama has, (for the most part at least) been above th fray. If she can run the balance of her campaign on the issues that face this great nation, and her solutions to these issues, that would be a welcome differentiator to this election season, and allow the remaining democrat voters to make a choice based on what matters, not the latest 'gotcha'. Now with her being behind in the polls, behond in fundraising, but ahead in negative perception, I don't expect things to change. But I can always hope that she, for the good of the party, start to more like behave like a Senator form New York, than a political hack from Arkansas
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