What Will A Clinton "Victory" Feel Like?

Whoopee, kids! George Bush III and Hillary Clinton have called for a Gas-Tax Holiday! Let's celebrate in style! Whaddaya say we all kick our Magic Tax Rebates into one big kitty, put on our flag lapel-pins, car-pool out to the desert, and throw an End-of-the-World Celebration--a Woodstock of the Apocalypse!

What endless and unlimited contempt they continue to show for our intelligence.

Wandering the aisles of roadside curio shops in the '90s, seeing all the balsawood plaques and coffee-mugs with anti-Hillary slogans, I used to wonder how millions of blue-collar Americans could perceive the First Lady as Satan in a badly-cut pants-suit. And while I still can't see her--yet--as Evil Incarnate, I am sick to death of hearing that a vote for John McCain is a vote for four more years of George Bush, when more and more a vote for Hillary seems to be exactly the same thing. I didn't start out as an Obama supporter--in my eyes, all the candidates have been way too timid on Issue #1, which is ending the occupation of Iraq--but John Edwards felt like the one most committed to it, and as a child of Rust-Belt America I liked his anti-NAFTA passion. As time went on, though, I began to realize that Obama was offering a radical change in tone, mode and template--someone who finally spoke to America as if he wasn't addressing a roomful of severely retarded eight-year-olds. That alone seemed to offer enough "hope" to merit support for him.

So, as the campaign tension ratchets up, in a week where Obama gives us more honest and adult conversation about the Reverend Wright "issue," what do we get from Hillary Clinton? An offhand threat to commit genocide in Iran, more purse-lipped and prissy insistence that Wright "wouldn't have been my pastor," and the supremely cynical act of pimping for votes by supporting this ludicrous "gas-tax holiday." And when an Indiana superdelegate and Bill Clinton-appointee at the DNC switches camps and endorses Obama, what do we get from the perfectly named Howard Wolfson and his squad of gutter-rats? "He doesn't really come from Indiana."

The hits just keep on comin'. And the scary part is: they're workin'.

So one begins to wonder just what a Clinton "victory"--which now actually seems possible--would really feel like.

Would it not--even for diehard Clinton-backers--come with a taste of ashes and bile? Don't even the most passionate supporters of Hillary recoil at the idea of Four More Years of James Carville--that hideous fusion of a female praying-mantis and a human male cadaver? Can even the most nostalgic "Friend of Bill" really stomach the spectacle of the ex-President stumbling around like the once-great Willie Mays tripping over his own feet in the outfield, wagging that scolding finger at us again, while obviously wet-dreaming that America still loves him? And--worst of all--who among us really wants to perpetuate that whole tired carnival of feigned outrage, transparent pandering, and shot-and-a-beer photo-ops?

If Clinton wins the nomination after promising--and delivering--a "kitchen-sink" campaign that appealed, from beginning to end, to the lowest and darkest of our human instincts, can that "victory" be anything but a crushing defeat for the America my kids will inherit?

Comments

[frustratedinohio]

What would a Clinton victory feel like?

Like the only way the democrats can win the GE. THE ONLY WAY. We are split, but more of her supporters will vote for McCain than will his supporters.

I know nobody wants to hear this, but the best chance we have in the fall is for a Clinton/Obama ticket. It makes the most sense. He can be vp first, then president. He can get more experience that way. This is the only way out of this mess.

[aht772e]

while the complete control over information and secrecy will be the same, while the trust in the honesty and accuracy of the information we are given from our government will be the same, while the pro corporate agendas will be the same, I think we can all agree that the judges appointed, while still pro business, will be at least pro-choice, so there will be at least one significant difference between McBush and HRC.

Seriously, I can't beleive that i can write something so extreme and believe it, but she reminds me of Nixon more than anyone else, excessive paranoia, enemies lists, intelligence contorted by a sense that she is the only one with the right answers, and anyone questioning her about an issue is questioning her entire self worth, always the victim of some underlying "conspiracy" to keep her from the respect she believes she deserves.

[Rasteira]

Well personally I'll be one of the thousands of angry Black people bricking the White House
and or refusing to ever vote again.

[LollieDotCom]

McCain is Bush lite,
Clinton is Bush ultra lite.

[dollars2donuts]

AND Hill is gonna have problems with the progressive voters/young voters too, not just AA's. Just look at the backlash she receives on Huffpo, Daily Kos and other netsroots websites when she spouts her right-wing attacks and talking points. I wonder how big a block is the progressive (mostly white) vote and what impact that would have on her chances in the fall?

[Sloane7]

I have wondered about this too. Clinton seems to think the only voters she needs to cater to are blue collars in rural areas and Latinos. And shockingly, she trashes those that do not support her. Does she really think if she were to get the nom, that all these other groups will rush to support her? Or does she say, I know I trashed you before but I was lying to get the nom?

[missjabez]

She trashes people who don't vote for her,and she trashes the states she doesn't win. I have never seen a politician take such an attitude.

[RandyRP]

This could be a real problem. Polls are not going to be an accurate assement at this point, becasue they don't consider turnout. In 2004 Kerry lost becasue the GOP got out the vote. I think they were running scared, becasue polls showed Kerry should win. Everyone talks about the AA vote, but they are 12% that break 90% for Obama, that is 8%. Not enough to win for sure, but many will still turn out for HRC? Hard to tell her negatives have burned some bridges. Idpendents will stay home or vote McCain, forget about the youth of the party and progressives too....HRC has too many turnoffs to inspire turnout...While it sounds terrible, if she does go nuclear and obliterate our party, an HRC loss is the only thing that will keep us together. If she wins there could be a more permanent fallout..The blue collar vote will realize progressives have there interests at heart better than someone from "the fellowship".

[dollars2donuts]

Here's the link to the op-ed showing the severe backlash against HIllary from black Democrats:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/opinion/03blow.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[mln7905]

The ONE silver lining in this protracted struggle is that the differences between our Democratic standard bearers have become more obvious.

I am supporting Obama because change is overdue. Clinton represents politics and ideas of the past.

This "for us or against us" on the gas tax is so Bush. When her advisors said that "she doesn't listen to experts" in response to a legitimate query as to why she supports a proposal that every major economist has said is a farce, that's Bush.

She touts experience, experience matters only if it leads to good decisions. She admitted, while smirking and laughing, that she lied about facing sniper fire. This again reminds me of Bush, smirking and sneering about weapons of mass destruction: "I know those weapons are somewhere" while thousands of our men and women are maimed and killed in a war sold on that basis. She has never apologized for that vote. Instead, she parses her words: If I'd known then what I know now ...." So George Bush--he is NEVER wrong. Obama got it right in 2002. Period.

Why is it that SHE is the right wing's choice for an opponent? Don't Clinton supporters ask themselves that question? BECAUSE THEY CAN BEAT HER. Why else?

I will not vote for the status quo, so I will not vote for Clinton. I am a 2X Clinton voter, a Gore and Kerry voter. I'm a Democrat, and I want a true Democrat in the White House.

[inspectormerlot]

You need a feel good story. :-) Check out Thomas Friedman's Obama endorsement in the NYT - it's beauuutiful.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04friedman.html?em&ex=1210046400&en=740ad78e29276577&ei=5087%0A

[PaulC37943]

People get the government they deserve. At least the majority does. While I'm dimayed that pandering and outright lies are effective in American politics, I'm not surprised. I guess the best you can hope for is that the ones doing the most effective pandering and lying (i.e., the ones who dupe the public well enough to get elected) somehow have our best interests at heart and will try to act accordingly once in office.

I guess I'm bitter.

[FarLeftField]

Wow! The author really summed up my feelings on this race. The Clintons' 'rule or ruin' mentality is sucking the life out of what should be a really great year to be a Democrat.

[CindyKay]

Hillary isn't Reminding You that the Gas Companies can Increase the Price of Gas whener they want & swallow up Any Savings & More so it will not help anyone not even Truckers & Farmers.

Remember Folks their Biggest Excuse is Supply & Demand. Summer is comming Get ready.

[CindyKay]

This was My favorite part .

Would it not--even for diehard Clinton-backers--come with a taste of ashes and bile? Don't even the most passionate supporters of Hillary recoil at the idea of Four More Years of James Carville--that hideous fusion of a female praying-mantis and a human male cadaver? Can even the most nostalgic "Friend of Bill" really stomach the spectacle of the ex-President stumbling around like the once-great Willie Mays tripping over his own feet in the outfield, wagging that scolding finger at us again, while obviously wet-dreaming that America still loves him? And--worst of all--who among us really wants to perpetuate that whole tired carnival of feigned outrage, transparent pandering, and shot-and-a-beer photo-ops?

If Clinton wins the nomination after promising--and delivering--a "kitchen-sink" campaign that appealed, from beginning to end, to the lowest and darkest of our human instincts, can that "victory" be anything but a crushing defeat for the America my kids will inherit?

[MattGuillen]

"I am sick to death of hearing that a vote for John McCain is a vote for four more years of George Bush, when more and more a vote for Hillary seems to be exactly the same thing. I didn't start out as an Obama supporter--in my eyes, all the candidates have been way too timid on Issue #1, which is ending the occupation of Iraq..."

So, first you state Iraq as the chief issue, then you spew your vomit on Hillary over her proposed gas bill.

What, EXACTLY, has the fellow you're pimping for, Obama, said about Iraq?

Apart from promising to invade our ally Pakistan, that is?

Obama will keep us in Iraq as long as he is president, just to show how "strong" he is. Like he did by throwing his preacher under the bus.

You hypocrites run together in packs...packs of Republicans moles pretending to be Democrats. This is all over news...how people like you are crossing party lines to help fuel Democratic in-fighting.

I can only hope, for your sake, your wish comes true and McCain becomes president. This way you can post on this blog how, that's okay, it's EXACTLY as if Hillary had won.

You'll get the chance to, I'm sure. Looking forward to reading you then. But until that day, after you've helped hand McCain his victory, I won't waste a second reading your swill.

[JohnEskow]

"What, EXACTLY, has the fellow you're pimping for, Obama, said about Iraq?"

Oh, uh--a crazy little thing called Voting Against It, for one, when Clinton truly swilled the Kool-Aid and threw her support behind a genocidal invasion at a time when any clear-eyed person knew the score.

Work a little harder next time, man.

John Eskow

[MattGuillen]

"Work a little harder?"

You're saying that OBAMA VOTED AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ???

Just what are you? A liar or an idiot?

Obama DID NOT VOTE, PERIOD!

And his overwhelming number of "present" votes amount to cowardly abstentions and bolsters my statement that he will do ANYTHING that's politically expedient.

He'll break with Wright only when he's called on the relation.

And he will keep us in Iraq as long as he sniffs opportunity in doing so.

And no, this didn't require any work at all, apart from typing. Just something missing from your piece as well as your response: honesty.

[Sloane7]

You think Obama supporters are really Republicans? And a poster further down thinks Obama is too Democratic, i.e. "Left"? Make up your minds people. But no, Obama supporters are firm Democrats. Many of them voted for Bill Clinton. But the Clintons have changed and so have we. If it's hard to accept that strong Democrats support Senator Obama and do not support Clinton, it might be best if you didn't read this post.

[MattGuillen]

There's a difference between being an Obama "supporter" and a committed...and lying...Hillary smearer.

Why not read what Eskow wrote again?

And why not read my response...again? With glasses on this time please.

Unless, that is, by "change" you mean turned into abusive, divisive liars--which is exactly what stating there isn't a difference between Hillary and McCain is all about: hypocritical and bilious...NOT "strong."

[SignWave]

But Matt - honestly - does it not bother you at all that Hillary is using the same horrible political tactics the the Republicans used against the Clintons and all Democrats? Doesn't it bother you when politicians pander to the lowest of our human instincts?

The Clintons learned how to "fight fire with fire" when they were being slimed by the Rebublicans. But they seem to have learned the lesson too well. They are now using those same slimey tactics against their own allies. It might be acceptable in self defense - but it's never OK to use those tactics as a matter of policy. That makes us the same as those that we despise.

It's like they have some sad, political form of Stockholm Syndrome where they are embracing the very thing they hated for so long.

As a long time fan of the Clintons, I am extraordinarily dissapointed in their recent behavior. I hope they can find a way to reconcile their recent shortsightedness and find an honerable way to continue contributing to our party and country.

[holleyc]

Hillary Clinton supports a gas tax plan thought up by John Mcsame which has been denounced by nearly every economist not on her payroll (and even a few that are) which would if passed (she has a better shot at winning the nomination then getting it through congress by this labor day if ever) at best do nothing, at worst most likely lead to even higher prices, terrible roads, and thousands of unemployed highway workers, and in theory lead to even higher oil company profits. Going off how she is arguing for this plan, it is for one or both of the following reasons.

1. She believes in her gut that it will benefit Americans even though it has been denounced by almost every economist and expert as a horrible idea (Post 9/11 Iraq War train of thought perhaps)

2. She has discovered that it polls well and is pandering for votes.

Either way, that is not the kind of thinking that we need in the White House. If people still support her in light of this just because she is a woman, they should not be allowed to vote.

[Daly]

well said.
I was just thinking what original idea has hillary brought forth aside from the failled 90's health care - in her 35 years she was never much interested in the cost of gas, or the working man's problems before or am I misremembering her being for NAFTA?

[PioneerKing]

Hillary isn't telling folks about the jobs that will be lost as a result of her paltry $30 savings.
When the funding gets cut for transportation highway projects the people who vote for Hillary will suffer even more.
What is also sad is that Obama and his campaign staff are not even mentioning that neither Hillary or McCain have any legislation up for vote that would allow this gas tax to happen.
If Americans are going to vote for McCain or Clinton because they will give them a $30 gas tax savings the these folks will be waiting for this to happen some time in 2009 (that is if Hillary or McCain wins the general election).

[Sloane7]

Hillary supporting this gas tax plan is a perfect example of her lack of integrity. Try to buy the votes and don't tell the voters what it really will mean for them.

[katefranklin]

It's imperative that Obama beats McCain, and I predict he will handily. We can not allow a Clinton 2012 "I told ya' so" campaign to take place, which is really what Hillary '08 is about at this point.