Awful Truth
Last night on CNN, commentator Jeffrey Toobin noted that Barack Obama's victory margin "is without dispute -- he has won the nomination...so without the deranged narcissism of the Clintons, I don't understand why [this isn't officially over]." Asked by his chuckling, mock-shocked colleagues what he really meant, Toobin said, "Well, what does that mean...it's 'her night'? He just won!"
GOP strategist Alex Castellanos, also appearing on CNN, said that in Clinton's almost blustery, non-conceding "no decisions tonight" speech last night "she did everything but offer Obama the vice presidency."
But "what other decision can she make?," MSNBC's First Read essay asked this morning. "Her speech, which came after the networks declared Obama the presumptive nominee, seemed akin to the losing football team remaining on the field after the game is already over and celebrating with its fans.
"A close friend and adviser said, 'We were going flat-out until last night. We poured everything into winning South Dakota. Now she needs some time to decompress.' Another said: "She knows she has maximum leverage right now." The Clintons clearly believe that Obama needs her supporters -- and that they can continue this dance for at least a few more days, despite pressure from party leaders to get it done."
Decompress? In other words, instead of doing what any student of politics would consider to be the traditional, respectful thing -- i..e, her conceding the nomination to Obama -- she's focusing instead on trying to chill down so she can personally feel looser and more relaxed? Is she going to double up on foot massages?
Hillary Clinton's raging egomania is literally sickening. She's a fiend. She will crawl out the landing gear of Obama's jet when it lands in Denver and tear Lance Henrickson in half. (Thanks to HE reader Crow T. Robot. Thanks also to Bosco Bear.)
Which makes it all the more difficult to admit that as loathsome and despicable as Clinton is, it would still be the smart thing for Obama to ask her to be his Vice-President.
John F. Kennedy didn't betray his "let's get this country moving again" campaign mantra by making Lyndon Johnson, a vulgar, old-school wheeler-dealer, his running mate -- he chose Johnson in order to win. Clinton is an absolute monster, but she believes in the right things and Obama, I suspect, will need a scrappy pit bull to help slap some deals together. You can't be too high-minded in a scummy business like politics.
Clinton will bring along the middle-aged Appalachian-industrial Midwest rube vote (or certainly a greater portion of these good and gentle folks than Obama would otherwise get on his own), and she'll certainly attract the millions of older, less-educated women who've been standing with her since last January and before. She is obnoxious with talons. She is Darkness Personified and nothing but trouble, but she believes in and wants to achieve the goals that Obama is committed to. The poor guy needs to hold his nose, shake hands with the devil and win the damn election, and move on from there.
That said, she is clearly trying to force Oabama's hand in this thing, and if he decides to turn her down and go with someone else as Vice-President, Obama will be admired for having made a tough and principled decision. For HRC is truly sociopathic -- one of the ugliest right-thinking liberals of all time.
As Politico's Roger Simon wrote this morning, Clinton's "fighting words [last night] only increased the need for Obama to show that he can be strong, tough and in charge. Clinton's unwillingness to recognize Obama as the victor only increased the need for Obama to act like a president and not like a doormat. And denying her a vice presidential slot may be a way of doing that."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 4, 2008 at 7:15 AM
comment #1
AH
says ...
I am pretty sure that I have the minority view, but if Obama chooses Clinton as his VP, I am not voting for him.
Posted by AH
at June 4, 2008 8:34 AM
comment #2
Midwest Doug
says ...
Jeff, you're wrong. Clinton will energize as many people to vote against her as to vote for her. She is not a net positive for the Obama campaign. Lyndon Johnson was a prick, but also a pragmatist. Which made him a good running mate. Hillary Clinton has shown absolutely no pragmatism -- just, as Toobin points out, narcissism. Putting Clinton on the Obama ticket is a poison pill that will kill the Democrats' chances of winning the White House in 2008.
Posted by Midwest Doug
at June 4, 2008 8:37 AM
comment #3
bb
says ...
It's stunning that people who consider Clinton a monster would be willing to accept her as VP. What could be worse than a monster?
Do words have no meaning anymore?
Posted by bb
at June 4, 2008 8:46 AM
comment #4
Pete Zha
says ...
Option 1:
Clinton is "Darkness Personified", "The Devil", and "one of the ugliest right-thinking liberals of all time.
Obama, of course, descended from heaven.
Option 2:
Think rationally.
Option 2 is harder.
Posted by Pete Zha
at June 4, 2008 8:49 AM
comment #5
mizerock
says ...
Maybe people are still stuck on the Karl Rove model, where having an attack dog / monster as the VP candidate is a winning strategy. Where winning is all that matters.
Posted by mizerock
at June 4, 2008 8:50 AM
comment #6
ketut
says ...
I don't know what to believe anymore. I know a lot of people who were down in St Paul last night, "just to be part of this historic 'something'."
So I assumed they only wanted Obama, but many said they would still vote for him if Hillary were on the ticket. That surprised me.
Just goes to show me at least, "Nobody knows nothing!"
Posted by ketut
at June 4, 2008 8:51 AM
comment #7
MattyCurtis
says ...
Wells's irrational hatred reminds me of my ex-girlfriend during her period. His opinions on this stuff are beyond meaningless.
But I too wonder about the plausibility of Clinton as a VP pick. Too much bad blood, and unlike the Kennedy/Johnson era, the media today would make it much more of a distraction.
I say bring on Jim Webb. He'd be a great attack dog, but brings so much more! He has cabinet experience, is a war hero, wrote what is considered the greatest Vietnam war novel that is assigned reading in many colleges today, and has a gruff but articulate presentation that I love and think many Americans would grab onto as well.
Posted by MattyCurtis
at June 4, 2008 8:56 AM
comment #8
messiahcomplexio
says ...
my two cents...
if he's smart, he'll pick Kathleen Sebelius, governer of kansas.
Posted by messiahcomplexio
at June 4, 2008 9:02 AM
comment #9
Mr. Muckle
says ...
Jeff, you must be out of your mind. Have you no principles? Obama and Clinton "believe the same things" only on a superficial political level. On the level of how to properly conduct yourself, both personally and politically, they are generations apart. I will also probably not vote for Obama if he chooses Hillary as VP. What a LOSING notion that is!!! There are plenty of qualified and attractive options -- my choice would be Joe Biden.
Posted by Mr. Muckle
at June 4, 2008 9:09 AM
comment #10
messiahcomplexio
says ...
as far as hillary...It feels like when you win an argument with your girlfriend, but she's still pissed at you, so to punish you, she makes you wait outside the bathroom at the mall, holding her purse.
accusations of sexism in 3...2...1...
Posted by messiahcomplexio
at June 4, 2008 9:11 AM
comment #11
JohnCope
says ...
I agree with messiahcomplexio on Sebelius. That's a great choice and if Obama can finesse that decision it would disarm Hillary and her supporters. Also, what about Wesley Clark? Wasn't he an option that had been floated? Or Bill Richardson? Anyway, whether it's deemed "rational" or not I would be disinclined to vote for Obama with Hillary attached; she's been far too willing to indicate what the measure of her presence in that position would be. No thanks. There are plenty of other solid options without the baggage of such stomache turning associations (for every voter picked up consider another alienated). The trick is to convince everyone else.
Posted by JohnCope
at June 4, 2008 9:31 AM
comment #12
MattyCurtis
says ...
I fail to comprehend how people who supported Obama during the primary season could contemplate not voting for him in the general if Hillary is on the ticket. A nonvote is a vote for McCain. Do you guys really think a McCain presidency would be better than an Obama/Clinton administration? Get real.
That said, it's unlikely he'll pick her. As mentioned before I think Webb would be great. Clark is good too, but there's something underwhelming about him that I can't quite place. Richardson would be phenomenal, but my inner-cynic wonders about having a black/latino ticket and what that'd mean for certain states. If they managed to win, though, how awesome a statement would that be!!!
Posted by MattyCurtis
at June 4, 2008 9:37 AM
comment #13
dangovich
says ...
Please God no more Hillary.
Pick Jim Webb or Bill Richardson.
Posted by dangovich
at June 4, 2008 9:56 AM
comment #14
swordandpen
says ...
I would still vote for Obama if he picks Clinton as his running mate, but would be holding my nose while doing it and seriously question his judgment. I think she would do anything possible to undermine his presidency.
I would agree though that Jim Webb is the best choice. Clinton's supporters will mostly get behind Obama like the many Republicans who didn't support McCain at first, but eventually got behind him. Hope Obama doesn't cave to the pressure to appease Clinton.
Posted by swordandpen
at June 4, 2008 10:01 AM
comment #15
Ogami Itto
says ...
But "what other decision can she make?,"
Isn't it obvious? She has to decide whether or not she still needs that has-been, pussyhound husband of hers running around and embarrassing her.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at June 4, 2008 10:09 AM
comment #16
Ogami Itto
says ...
And I second (or third) the suggestion of Jim Webb as V.P. -- ex-military, tough, and can do the dirty work necessary in a general election against McNasty.
I think Bill Richardson would make a good Secretary of State.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at June 4, 2008 10:14 AM
comment #17
The Bandsaw Vigilante
says ...
You know it's a good time to be Obama when we're all arguing over the embarassment-of-riches that is the well of his extremely-qualified potential VP-candidates (versus whomever McBush might choose).
I'd also like to throw Janet Napolitano of New Mexico into the ring -- she's well-liked and respected by Republicans in her state, has a reputation for getting shit done, and is simultaneously loathed by the hardest of hardcore GOPers for...quelle horreur!...daring to govern from the center.
(Although Eddie Rendell would basically help hand Obama PA on a silver platter...)
Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante
at June 4, 2008 10:15 AM
comment #18
The Bandsaw Vigilante
says ...
Forgot to mention Richardson -- if I were Obama, I'd slot him as SecState, too.
Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante
at June 4, 2008 10:19 AM
comment #19
Gabriel
says ...
I think Obama needs to stay committed to his campaign of inspiration and hope, and go with Ron Paul.
Posted by Gabriel
at June 4, 2008 10:23 AM
comment #20
va
says ...
As in independent, I am leaning to voting for Obama - but absolutely will not vote for him if Hillary and Bill are in the VP slot --- those two are not "right thinking" people at all - they will say whatever they need to in order to get elected - they don't believe in anything!
Posted by va
at June 4, 2008 10:26 AM
comment #21
T. S. Idiot
says ...
Not that it has anything to do with anything, but I received a free issue yesterday of the slick, fine-looking mag Uptown featuring BO on the cover. But the image is so airbrushed that it looks like a CGI version of him. He looks like he's about to change into the Hulk.
Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/6jz95b
Posted by T. S. Idiot
at June 4, 2008 11:01 AM
comment #22
Indeed
says ...
"The poor guy needs to hold his nose, shake hands with the devil and win the damn election, and move on from there."
Change we can believe in.....
Posted by Indeed
at June 4, 2008 11:25 AM
comment #23
Rob
says ...
I'm confused...how can someone "believe in the right things" and still be an "absolute monster?" Isn't this statement kind of, um, completely contradictory.
Look at it this way: During the Primary season, about 17 million people each voted for Clinton and Obama. If a Clinton nomination can keep a large number of those 17 million shifting to McCain, then why not? No one except for AH and the most foaming-at-the-mouth misogynists will give up their Obama votes because of this.
That said, the VP choice shouldn't be about who can get him elected. It should be about who he most wants on his team once he's in office. On that front, Clinton is STILL a good choice - they have the same priorities, and she still has a lot of weight to throw around. Her outspokenness and ability to reach across the aisle and compromise would nicely complement his thoughtfulness and idealism.
I hold the minority view that, in the larger historical context, this campaign was child's play (in terms of negativity) compared to a lot of others. There's no reason the two Senators can't band together and make a great team.
Posted by Rob
at June 4, 2008 11:29 AM
comment #24
Arizona Joe
says ...
I think Mr. Toobin has it right, a very bright guy.
For the record, Janet Napolitano is to governor of Arizona, and she will not be it. Bill Richardson is the governor of New Mexico, and would not be a bad choice, although I don't know if he would help Obama with white males.
John Edwards would be of some help on the ticket, but has declined.
I think Obama's VP will be a white guy with a military or national defense background.
Posted by Arizona Joe
at June 4, 2008 11:37 AM
comment #25
D.Z.
says ...
"John F. Kennedy didn't betray his "let's get this country moving again" campaign mantra by making Lyndon Johnson, a vulgar, old-school wheeler-dealer, his running mate -- he chose Johnson in order to win."
I've told you, Jeff. That's a bad idea. (See Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963.)
AH: "I am pretty sure that I have the minority view, but if Obama chooses Clinton as his VP, I am not voting for him."
I will vote for him, but I'll be praying he wears a bullet proof vest.
Posted by D.Z.
at June 4, 2008 11:39 AM
comment #26
WinslowLeachtheComposer
says ...
I too would like to see the Concrete Blonde singer for VP. (I assume that's an old joke by now, but I just got here.)
Posted by WinslowLeachtheComposer
at June 4, 2008 11:51 AM
comment #27
snackyx
says ...
I know, its deranged, but here is the Clinton mindset: Take the damn VP spot, and when Obama is ultimately assassinated she will asend to the throne that is rightly hers. Lets face it--that's the quickest route available to her at this juncture.
Posted by snackyx
at June 4, 2008 12:22 PM
comment #28
BurmaShave
says ...
I'm still laughing at the Lance Henriksen line. Ten minutes later.
Posted by BurmaShave
at June 4, 2008 12:55 PM
comment #29
sardine
says ...
Obama will NOT pick Clinton.
I prefer Edwards....or anyone who can help him win.
Posted by sardine
at June 4, 2008 1:12 PM
comment #30
The Bandsaw Vigilante
says ...
"For the record, Janet Napolitano is to governor of Arizona, and she will not be it. Bill Richardson is the governor of New Mexico, and would not be a bad choice, although I don't know if he would help Obama with white males."
Yeah, five minutes after I typed that bit about Napolitano, I realized I said "New Mexico," when I thought I'd typed "Arizona."
Guess I'm still trying to put all traces of McBush out of my mind.
That said, I agree with whomever said that Obama should pick Ron Paul as his VP...that'd *really* piss both the hardliner GOP'ers *and* the Glassy-Eyed Clintonistas off.
Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante
at June 4, 2008 1:20 PM
comment #31
jany
says ...
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Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability solutions
Posted by jany
at April 22, 2011 6:11 AM