Clinton, Obama: A Modest Proposal in Lieu of a Badly Wrecked Train

Our plesance heir is all vane glory,
This fals warld is bot transitory,
The flesche is brukle, the Fend is sle;
Timor mortis conturbat me.

It so happened that when I awoke this morning from uneasy dreams these words from a poem written by William Dunbar around the turn of the 16th century popped into my head, where they have persisted through a busy day. A modern rendering would be something like, "Our pleasures here are all vain./ This false world is transitory./ The flesh is weak, the fiend is sly./ Fear of death distresses me." The Latin refrain line dates back to the seventh- or eighth-liturgy of the Office for the Dead. The lines, in the memento mori tradition, instruct us to respice finem: look to the end. Put the day-by-day in the long perspective of eternity. In a word, focus.

The old theme is good advice for a day, when the Democrats prepare yet once more to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We need to focus.

Hillary, Barack: think! Think on what a McCain presidency will mean to the rule of law, already teetering on the brink of oblivion, while the economy falters, a war is waged without end or articulated objective, and the judiciary is packed with the ideologues of the unitary executive.

May I suggest two steps in the spirit of the old tradition? 1. Put up Mr. McCain's picture in every room. Paste it to the backside of your reading glasses, and 2. Cover every damn mirror in your house. Hillary, Barack: THIS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE ABOUT YOU. One of you is going to have to take one for the team, and it has to be soon.

I'm not talking metaphors: literal lives are at stake. Here are some spiritual exercises for you: ask yourself each morning: how many people are now dead -- I mean real people who are really dead -- because we allowed a politicized Supreme Court to install the man with fewer votes? Visualize the corpses. Then look at the pitiful specter Ralph Nader has become and think of Lady Macbeth's repetition compulsion. Blood is sticky stuff. You need to focus.

How do we get out of this bad place? We have two perfectly viable candidates. My preference between them happens to be Obama -- and I have reasons for that preference -- but, hell, I'd vote Mrs. Clinton in a heartbeat and with a smile on my face, if the two of you would settle this thing tonight with a coin toss.

But I understand: "The flesche is brukle, the Fend is sle," I suppose too much has been spent, said and done, and too many hirelings have too much invested, for such a sublimely aleatic solution to occur. But here's another possibility. Much has been said about the relative value of words and deeds. With the candidates as close as they are on most policy issues, the deleterious ad hominem attacks have seemed inevitable. But if the contest truly is about who will deliver, who will best achieve a progressive turn in American government and politics, I propose a different kind of campaign. I call it the here is Rhodes campaign (Aesop "The Boastful Athlete").

All three prospective presidents happen to be United States Senators. Let's judge them on what they do, on what they can deliver, between now and the election. Let Clinton and Obama vow not to leave Washington, DC between now and the nominating convention. Don't tell me who will deliver a progressive America. Take your campaign to the floor of the Senate and start delivering. Get in there and make it happen, stop the FISA act, assert congressional oversight of war funding. Stand in the well of the Senate and demand that the legislative branch check and balance the run away executive. Tell Nancy Pelosi to enforce the contempt citations against Meirs and Bolton. Haul Mukasey before the Senate and read him the riot act on ignoring congressional subpoenas. Tie up the DOJ's funding until you get some respect. There is enough work to be done here in Washington for you to make a real record of achievement -- and instead of destroying each other you'll put McCain under enormous pressure to come back and meet you in the Senate, where saying, at least potentially is doing. And the TV coverage will be free too. How's that for campaign finance reform?

This is my modest proposal. We're headed for the worst train wreck since 1968. I know it must be hard to give up one's chance at a prize like the presidency, but maybe, just maybe, covering the mirrors and concentrating on your jobs will get you what want anyway. It's a bold move. Even letting the other Democrat win, if that's what it takes, is better than losing anyway if it means spending eternity unsuccessfully trying to wash the blood off your hands, again and again and again...."Hic Rhodus, hic saltus." Leap Here.

Comments

[Lemeritus]

Now that the thread is winding down, I simply have to ask:

Does anyone REALLY wake up in the morning with the words of William Dunbar on their mind? Andrew Marvell, maybe; but William Dunbar????

[alohaboxer]

How about we stop teaching politics at our universities and again teach the sciences. Things like economics, math, engineerin­g...Then, replace our liberal, biased instructors with those who teach how to think, not what to think. Then, perhaps, we will have some serious leaders in office. Leaders whom have actually studied more than just "public policy" and banter; whom actually understand the workings of a capitalistic economy; and, who are capable of more than promises based on things which are, at the root, next to impossible to attain in practice..­. but sound great in theory. Teach debate by teaching both sides, not just one side and a distain for the other. Then, get the general population interested in education. And not the education where you quip a poem and translate its meaning into hyperbole.

Our problems are not nestled in the halls of the marble buildings of Washington. They are in our "do what you want" society. We are crumbling and its not our leader's faults. Its ours.

[Lemeritus]

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/but in ourselves, that we are underlings­."

Still, good friend, "Leaders WHOM have actually studied"? Leaders WHO have, please.

[flatus]

The only thing I see is a LANDSLIDE coming. What's all the fuss and fretting about? Are we afraid that either camp may come up with some secret info that the Repbulicans will miss without our help? Nonsense.

America thrives on conflict. The longer Obama and Clinton go at it the greater the opportunity to sway those pesky Independents and Republican moderates who, like us, have been deeply shamed by the last seven years.

[Lemeritus]

And, I might add, the longer Obama and Clinton go at it, the harder it is for McCain to get media attention -- maybe a mention here or a "Where in the World is John Sandiego?" there, but the Democrats are really using up all the air until the nomination is final.

[abroadabroad]

What a great idea! I have been saying all along that Democratic voters should demand that Democratic candidates earn our votes for a change, instead of taking us for granted while they court Republicans.

Reading the comments here though, you still have two sides of the same coin that both seem to think their side is genuine and the other side is a forgery. President McCain has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

[personalpolitical]

Obama isn't doing this for him, Hillary is. Hillary should drop out. She has shown time and time again that she is willing to trash the party to further her political ambition. Furthermore, Obama is far more electable against McCain than Hillary...­there is no way in hell Hillary can beat him. It is an easy choice, she needs to start thinking about something other than herself:

http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/post/26858159

[abroadabroad]

I am from neither camp, but spare me. Do you think he's doing it for you? Do you think Obama is putting his own real and modest ambitions aside just so that he can do us the unselfish favor of saving us from ourselves? Do you think he's lying awake nights and thinking, 'I'd rather go back to Chicago and open up a backroom law practice, or maybe tinker around in the Senate for a few more years, but gosh darnit, my country needs me'?

These are the types of comments that make people shudder and think 'Oh lordy, it's a cult'!

[DennyCrane]

Marshall, the only candidate who continues to make it about themself is Hillary. Obama is leading in delegates, the polls, the popular vote, and in states. It's incredibly unlikely Hillary will be able to catch up to Obama and the superdelegates are slowly siding with Obama. They will also be under pressure not to go against the will of the people. Hillary is being the selfish one by continuing this. And if you need further proof, just listen to the speeches of both candidates. Obama always talks about what WE can do for America. Hillary always uses the word 'I'. It's always about what SHE can do for America. This election should be about changing the direction of America, which is what Obama has been campaigning on. But Hillary talks more about how she's entitled to the Presidency. Who's the more selfish one?

[austinobserver]

Hillary conceding because there are literal lives at stake? You really should write comedy, and it just so happens that SNL is apparently in dire need of good comedy writers.

I can see how that request would work out. Hillary: "You want me to concede for the good of the team and because there are lives at stake?!? Just how many lives are we talking about? A trillion, a quadrillion? Unless we are talking about a trillion quadrillion lives, fuhgedaboutit! I am just getting started!"

[shecky]

In view of Barak, Senator Obama, not holding hearings about Afghanistan , not having to be on the record - his excuse, the campaign - your post makes SUPERIOR sense. Senator Clinton has at least stood and been counted...­read Joseph Wilson's recent Huffpost, (which disappeared pretty quickly) regarding Clinton vs Obama, and this issue - action. Senator Clinton's speech authorizing action called for more inspections - Wilson points out her advice was IGNORED. And etc., Obama not voting, not holding hearings - I'll go for action from Clinton - who I think has ego & power issues like all politicians, but is not as misguided or malevolent as Obama people would wish... their "negative" idea is to go after tax returns - how very Republican - state your substance, Senator Obama, then criticize others, Clinton & McCain for theirs...t­he idea of Clinton-Obama ticket is exciting - pair up, and take action, and I'll vote for the team for 16 years, ok? So much of my adult life has been spent with Nixon, Reagan, Bush -HELP!!!! REPUBLICAN ACTION HAS BEEN SO DAMAGING - PLEASE DO THE HARD WORK TO REPAIR, AND YOU'LL NOT ONLY HAVE AMERICANS BEHIND YOU, BUT THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ANTI-AMERICAN FERVOR WHICH CONTROLS OUR LIVES AND THOUGHTS TODAY. PEACE AND PROSPERITY ARE HUMAN RIGHTS, NOT WISHES AND DREAMS...S­TAND UP FOR US AND WE WILL STAND BEHIND YOU.

[GeorgiaOrwell]

Great post and fantastic idea!

This is a train wreck but mainly because of the negative ads that the Clinton campaign is running. I was undecided originally between the two, and I wanted a woman President, but I do not admire or respect a woman who fancies herself as a pugnacious courtroom litigator out to out shout, smear the witness, and cover up her own inadequacies. I don't see now a dime's worth of difference between Clinton and McCain and that just isn't acceptable. Both have a terrible temper and need anger management and ethics classes. Hillary's voting record is reprehensible, I have discovered, as well. My suggestion: she drops out.

Obama - Barbara Boxer 08

[vanessa04]

Mr. Grossman - I love, love, LOVE your solution! Deeds, not words.

My preference happens to be for Hillary, but in this scenario, the best candidate really DOES win. Whoever that is. Because with these parameters, they would truly deserve to be POTUS.

From your keyboard to the DNC's ears. Forget primaries and caucuses, proportional delegates and super-delegates. Forget "hope" vs "experience".

THIS is how we should run an election.

[mrJJ]

No compromise. No backroom deals. Let this fight go all the way to the convention if neccesary. Both candidates owe it to their supporters to fight the good fight...If its the job of the almighty elite Dem super delegates to make their choice for the Dem nominee... then so be it! The rules state they (Super delegates) can vote anyway they want... That rule MUST stand.

Let the Dem voters see the wisdom of their choice.

I am NOT a card carrying my party right or wrong voter... I have already voted in this primary. My state followed the DNC rules. Now the rest of the voters in the states that followed the rules must have their say. This race for delegates must continue.

[joebhed]

I will probably not vote for Hillary and I find Obama much less than inspiring.
Where's the beef, Barack?
But as for the little party going on, I am all for it.
It has many good sides.
We are all talking about the Democratic race.
A race is a a vibrant and dynamic act.
Why would we want it to end?
And why does it need to end now?
Bobby Kennedy(RIP) died after winning the California primary on June 4th, some three months from now.
Obviously, that contest, the dynamic, vibrant race for the nomination, was stlll going on.
So, what's the rush here?
To all those "let's get this thing settled, so we can really kill the Republicans!" folks out there, I say this.
If you can't kill alll the Republicans in the three months after the conventions, then fugetaboutit !
Even if we get to the convention unresolved, we will all get a modern day lesson in gutteral electoral party politics that will be well worth the price of an uncertain Spring.
And I am sure that we can reform the primary process so that we can have three Super Tuesdays, about two months apart with the little states going first, then the bigger ones and finally the largest, and do away with al of these shenanigans once and for all.
But, whom would that advantage?

[Damianna]

All praises to this man who "awoke this morning from uneasy dreams these words from a poem written by William Dunbar around the turn of the 16th century popped into my head"! He is right: it's time for both of them to stop talkin' the talk and start walkin' the walk. There is potential in congress to right some wrongs. Let's see both Senators do what they can to protect our beautiful constitution.

[nazgul]

In all fairness, the losing candidate would have to be the one to take one for the team. That would be Clinton, and she's not team player.

[Samson1]

So Nazgul, just for instance, what if its Obama? You'll vote for Hillary with a smile on your face?

[leggomyairplane]

This is patently ridiculous. We have a democratic electoral process and we are working through it. It may seem scary because our news media is now so powerful - the power to sway- however, if you read up on more recent history US candidates have worked through the same processes. I sympathize with your fears for our country, but get some perspective. This train has been derailing for the last 8 years not just since both demo candidates launched their respective campaigns. Let our established process work and dont give in to fear or the mesmerizing desire to crown someone king just so we dont have to actually be adults and do scary and challenging things like manage our democracy.

[nazgul]

The train wreck of the last 8 years has been an inter-party or national train wreck. The train wreck we are watching now is an intra-party train wreck. There are already splinter factions within each camp that will NOT support the other camp in November. These splinter factions grow each day. Within a month or two, there will not be a base left to elect a candidate in November..­.

To pretend otherwise is to... pretend.

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

Exactly, Nazgul!!

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

Exactly!

[revederie]

You hit it on the head! Supporters from both sides have already declared that they will NOT vote for the winner, but take their vote to McCain. So it looks like ANOTHER 4 years of the same old crap Republicans.

It's sad when you realize Democrats NEVER learn from their mistakes. . .

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

I'm going to type slow so you can read this....Ye­s, the train HAS been derailing for 8 yrs. - the point here is that Hillary risks ripping the Democratic party apart to try to get the nomination, potentially losing the election in November to McCain. Democrats DO need to focus and remain undivided. We are circling the drain and 4 more years of a Republican president will be devastating.

[tkk]

Hillary was running WAYYYY before Obama and was the overwhelming choice of Democrats. Then, Dick Durbin decided to DRAFT Obama to split the vote. So how do you get that Hillary is ripping the party apart? You people show your ignorance with posts like this.