The Clintons: A Faded Franchise

Hillary Clinton said yesterday in Philadelphia, "When it comes to finishing a fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit."

She's a lot like Rocky, all right, but less the original masterpiece and more the desperate fourth sequel, Rocky V. By the fifth film the increasingly irrelevant Rocky Balboa was resorting to having classless fights in the streets, far from his gallant championship days in the ring. Plots like that made audiences grow quickly tired of the faded franchise.

There is no doubt the Clinton franchise is fading. Much like other horror franchises (Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and Halloween are wonderful examples), it will eventually come to an end. Probably not in Pennsylvania, but almost certainly in North Carolina. If she stays in after a loss there, we'll know she's "jumped the shark."

From The Hill's Pundit Blog.

Follow Ryan J. Davis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryannewyork

Comments

[frustratedinohio]

02:56 PM on 04/03/2008

You say the Clinton franchise is fading. Well maybe it is, but along with it are those 12.5 million voters who wanted Hillary as the presidential nominee. How easily you dismiss your fellow Americans.

[Gumpster]

12:04 AM on 04/03/2008

With the recent attacks, advertisements, outbursts, and lies, HRC is looking like the sad, beaten underdog for whom you feel sorry for, but know in the end will not win. She has a chance to save her dignity and relevance in politics by recognizing the dismal chance or her victory and participating in the reform of this country through her service as a Senator. Her dream and self-proclaimed right to the presidency is over, and we all need to move on to the good work needed to improve the economy, our healthcare and our standing in the global community.

It is way past that hour, and time for the hard but noble decisions.

[marthlois]

12:58 AM on 04/03/2008

I sincerely think you summed it up so well. I'm so impressed and having been a HRC supporter for many years - I do want her to find a gracious path.
I must go on record as saying, however, that if she continues on ..... that the citizens of Pennsylvania
and the primaries to follow - owe it to themselves to fully understand............for lack of a better word.....
her LIES about Nafta. I hope they are not taken advantage of like the folks in Ohio. That was so
terribly wrong.
That having been said, I hope that she can restore some dignity to the Clinton name. She really is
a brilliant woman with a lot to offer.

[FlowerGirl]

09:33 PM on 04/02/2008

Hillary's star would have faded long ago if our media reported the truth about her.
Her recent lies should have triggered articles on her history of lying.
For example she was fired without recommendation from the Watergate Innvestigation because of her pattern of lies:

http://www.jzeifman.com/

I can't see how that is the kind of person we need as President.

[Plowboy]

09:26 PM on 04/02/2008

The Clintons are like a lot opf old athletes I know. They have a tendency to ... let us say ..embellish their past.

[za2008]

08:54 PM on 04/02/2008

Probability of seeing HRC with Obama after Denver or after conceding: Pretty close to 0

[StoutHouse]

07:25 PM on 04/02/2008

To a fading generation of Democrats, the Clintons are a still brand name, which accounts for much of Hillary’s success so far. They’re like Kraft macaroni and cheese -- comforting, familiar, but not especially good for you.

[olderdem]

04:54 PM on 04/02/2008

If Hillary were to be President for the next 8 years, she could hand the Clinton mantle to Chelsea who would then be 35 and eligible to run -- that would be Clinton V. Of course by then we might get another Bush sequel, with Jeb or one of their nephews, so Clnton V might not be released for 12-16 years. Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton. We may never have another family in charge of this Country if we can keep those sequels coming.

[jules7212]

03:49 PM on 04/02/2008

Oh Ryan, I hope so. I will never think positive thoughts about either of them again.

[hopeless277]

03:45 PM on 04/02/2008

It's all about 2012 now. I will be extremely surprised if she drops out before calling Obama 'The Illegitimate Candidate'. She will then go on to campaign for McCain who, if he wins, and if there is a USA in 2012, she will savage with a gusto not seen since The Spanish Inquisition.

[charlietuna11]

04:22 PM on 04/02/2008

your only half right, yes she will be working 24/7 to get mccain in office..but true to the clinton m, o, she will try to convince her party that she and bill are backing obama all the way. the sad part is that some people will actually believe her. her treachery has no limits..she truly belongs to no party except the clinton/rodham clan...

[tedbear]

03:07 PM on 04/02/2008

Amen!

Lets hope it ends soon.

[Countess]

02:55 PM on 04/02/2008

I hope Stephen King is watching this race closely and will give Hillary a job in his next thriller.