Why Clinton Couldn't Have Won
I've talked about this before a number of people. But, now that the DNC is just about over and we're about to head into the RNC and then what should prove to be a crazy campaign season, I think it's important to point this out again.
It's no secret I'm not a Hillary Clinton fan. Most of my problem with her, though, are personal and, therefore, not worth talking about in a political forum. I think, that if she was the winner in a presidential election, she'd do a pretty darn good job. She's clever and forceful and would most certainly get things done.
Thing is, there's no way at all she could have won. In fact, even if she was the vice presidential pick, the Democrats would lose.
Why? Because she's a Clinton. And even with nearly eight years of a Republican-lead Executive branch, any Clinton is still a Republican's favorite target. There is no question what so ever that, in a contest that involved Hillary, Republicans would have gone out of their way to screw with the election and bring out more manpower than ever to vote against her.
Yes, it's utterly ridiculous, but that's exactly what would have happened. You can see it in the Republican ads that were going around before it became pretty clear that Obama was going to be the Democrat's choice. Heck, the Republicans are still using Clinton as a rally-point--you have heard about that big burst of sour-grapes "Democrats" who now say they're voting for McCain because Hillary isn't the party's choice, right? (More on that here and here.) There's good reason, in my opinion, to suspect that at least some of these people are just there to sew seeds of division (an underhanded, though effective, political tactic from way back).
That sort of thing alone would have been rampant if Clinton had gotten the nomination. Given the extra added boost of being able to draw on racists and misogynists, the dirtiest dealers in the Republican Spin squad would have had a field day. Turning enough people to have yet another Red Party victory would have been almost too easy.
So, from a completely practical standpoint, Clinton anywhere on the ticket would have been a very bad idea for anyone interested in a Democratic party win in the coming election.
I'm not a full out Obama supporter. Between him and Clinton, it would have been a toss up for me if it weren't for the obvious target Hil has on her (mostly thanks to her husband's presidency, I think).
Now that Obama's the official candidate, there's other things to worry about.
(And here's the kind of paragraph that gets people like me put on lists and visited by nice men in dark suits... please note, oh ye who scan these things for threats that this is not by any means a threat from me, just an observation of history and current state of affairs.)
I'm pretty sure that, if it doesn't happen before the election, someone's going to take a shot at Obama once he's president. Probably within the first year of his presidency. Looking around, it won't be too difficult to rile up some idiot racist or rabid warmonger who'll think "Something needs to be done" and then go and do it.
And because of that, I'm pretty happy that Biden is the veep. Of all the politicians out there, I've always had a bit of respect for the man. Most importantly, he came right out and said he didn't want the job.
That's the kind of person I want in a position of power. The reluctant leader is often more in tune with the people being lead.
But that's also a whole 'nother subject.
McCain makes his announcement of VP tomorrow. I'm betting it's Romney. A John & Mit ticket would fit the Republicans very well. (Especially since, much like Obama's chances of getting through his term unscathed, I'm pretty sure if McCain wins he won't be in office very long before something very bad happens to him.)
Either way, I'm glad Hillary gave that fantastic speech at the DNC on Tuesday. If nothing else, it proves she has what it takes to eventually run and win. Probably after the Republicans have latched on to some other target or someone else has screwed things up massively or she pulls off something amazing while in the Senate.
No hard feelings, Hillary fans... this is just the difference between what any of us want and what reality will support.
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