There is a growing consensus that Mrs. Clinton is playing out the string, primary-wise, that she (like we) can see the writing on the wall and it does not include a convention acceptance speech. (This, BTW, might explain her recent rhetorical mood swings.)
But even if Obama is now the overwhelming favorite there is still urgency for him to win Texas and Ohio, as my friend Jack Farrell argues over on RobertEmmet. Jack, a veteran political reporter with whom I used work at The Boston Globe, argues that Obama needs to close out Clinton so that he can start to define himself before the GOP makes it all about lapel flag-pins. He brings some historical perspective:
In 1988, I spent some time as a journalist with the Dukakis campaign. When it became clear that the Democrats were blowing their opportunity to claim the White House, I asked some of his aides and advisers why the campaign had never developed a compelling message, and allowed the Republicans to define their man.
"We had a message," one of them told me. "It was Tuesdays."Tuesdays, as in primary election days. Dukakis spent that spring making headlines on Tuesdays as he drove Jesse Jackson, Al Gore and the other Democratic candidates from the race.
Sound familiar?
The Dukakis campaign staff were pretty smart guys and gals - a bunch of Ivy League brains with a touch of Boston muscle. But they became convinced, over the course of all those Tuesdays, that they were a breed of political geniuses.
Success can inebriate -- and cause a campaign to lose its edge. Get comfortable and you start to dismiss things like flag pins and such as minor and easily ignored. Then you get SwiftHorton'd.
Their only thoughts are of the primary and primarily their hatred of Hillary. Now someone (emphasis on one) will post that they don't hate Hillary but just prefer Barack. For every one of these there are two dozen snotty posts that tell us to take our vote and shove it. They don't need no stinkin' party.
Hence the fear of we veteran Democrats (the ones they really hate) who have watched Dukakis and Kerry go down in flames at a time it should have been a slam dunk.
The chief danger to the electoral process right now is the Diebold machine. The desire for "change from the status quo in Washington" is so strong it's driving Hillary Clinton (the presumptive nominee as recently as Feb 4th) out of the race. It's likely Democrats, Independents like me, and moderate Repugs will show up at the polls for Obama in November in such overwhelming numbers that even Diebold thievery will not be much of an issue.
Had Hillary won the nomination it would put a fire in the belly of Repugs to win in November that would have made the fever to impeach Bill Clinton look like a holiday at the beach on the sunny day.
It's important that Obama stay focused on the PEOPLE who're supporting his historic bid for the presidency. If he does that, he'll be very difficult to beat in November.
Needing to consult with a political reporter for this tidbit of knowledge says quite a bit... but not about Obama.
No, really. The average Dem voter (or independent or even Repub) is jealous of the Clinton's for what reason? That they assumed that they would waltz to the candidacy? That they pull in millions of dollars but don't want us to know the details? That they would rather screech in mockery than advocate for hope?
I, for one, am not jealous.
If you are not jealous, then why don't you like Hillary and Bill? Again, they have done what no one else has done since Carter.
Tell me how Obama's going to take on the republican attack machine?
I hope you realize that the republicans WANT him to win, other wise why would the right wing MSM be attacking her and NOT him?
It's my opinion and I'd hate to see the democrats lose the WH again so I'm sharing it. What I truly don't understand is why the Clintons are so loathed?
Their arrogance is breathtaking. If you Clintonistas would take 10 minutes and look at the depth of policy Obama has proposed, look at what he accomplished in the Illinois legislature, and his work in the Senate, you might be surprised.
I don't question your right to prefer Hillary. I understand it. I respect it. What I will not accept is your calling Obama all talk and no action, when his resume is full of action, ideas, laws, community activism. Just say you prefer her. But be honest.
I'm tired of fear. No one is afraid of Hillary except some party elders. I'm tired of their off the charts threats at every little criticism. What can Hillary accomplish with just fear on her side and her "hard work." We all work hard, Hillary. You're not the only one.
And you don't own the democratic party. And you don't own the White House.
Then the fun will start and I can't wait.
Then the fun will start and I can't wait.
The Republicans have no idea how much animosity is brewing under the surface. When they trot out their dirty trick 527's, the counter insurgency is going to be brutal. We are ready for the test.
Obama's is a different sensibility and he shows no signs of an inclination to make the same old democrat mistakes. How he handles the next two weeks should demonstrate that to the satisfaction of all.
I would only hope that the Clintonians among us will let go of the past, lick their woulds and step up to their responsibility to end the Republican nightmare. That's what I would do, were Clinton the nominee. Clinton should not be allowed to poison the party, not because the party is ideal (hardly!--it enabled Bush and the gang of evildoers), but because the party is the only vehicle we've got to end the Republican dark ages of crime and malfeasance.
I don't for one minute believe that the Obama campaign will sit back and smirk, confident in their success so much so that they will screw it up.
No, that is a Clinton quality. He will continue on with his game plan and he is doing just fine. He will go the fifty state mode and finally, I believe, March 4, will be the Billary surrender.
I have never gotten the impression that Obama and his campaign sit high on their laurels. I have gotten the impression that Obama is depending upon the people and respects the people and their power and has had the ability to bring that to their consciousness. It is not he, but we and we get it. Hillary is "me" vote for me and "I" will be the whipping boy that will force everyone to bow to my will, no matter who they are. That strategy is not working.