Humor me while we conduct a little thought experiment.

[ashling]

By Eugene Robinson
Friday, February 22, 2008; Page A23

Humor me while we conduct a little thought experiment. Imagine that Barack Obama had lost 10 contests in a row. Imagine that he now trailed Hillary Clinton substantially in the number of Democratic primaries and caucuses won, in total votes cast, in pledged convention delegates, in the overall delegate count, in fundraising and in the ineffable attribute called mojo. Imagine that Obama was struggling, at this late hour, to come up with the right message. What would the conventional wisdom say?

That it was over, of course. That Obama was toast. That staking everything on the March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas was a starry-eyed hope, not a plan, and that it was time to smell the coffee.

Whenever Obama faced reporters, he'd have to answer tough questions. Why was he carrying on, knowing that he'd have to win by unrealistically large margins in all the remaining states to catch up? Didn't it worry him that relying on the superdelegates -- the Democratic establishment, basically -- to hand him the nomination could divide and weaken the party? Wasn't he concerned that Republican John McCain has such a head start in unifying his party and plotting his general election campaign?

***

... But after losing 10 in a row, she can't avoid facing -- and we can no longer avoid asking -- those unwelcome questions about whether she does her party more harm than good if she stays in the race until the convention.

[e-mail]

[grantcart]

1. It is a brilliant point that I have been pondering for a week

the resilient charisma and nostalgia for the Clinton's is so strong it makes Obama's victories that much more amazing.

Redo the experiment. Say that Obama had beat Joe Biden or John Edwards 11 times in a row by landslide margins everyone would absolutely hate the bastard that was trying stop Obama from claiming total victory.

[rwenos]

2. Megalomania?

Unfortunately this campaign is not fulfilling the bargain Hillary made with Bill, back in the day. She CAN'T let go -- because if she does, it means all the infidelity, all the bullshit, all the enduring stupid little campaign toadies -- all the stuff politicians have to do, but are unsuited to Hillary's personality -- WERE FOR NOTHING.

And then there's the question that haunts all us Dem's: Will Hillary stay with this, unyielding in her belief in her own rectitude, long enough to bring the Democratic Party down with her?

I feel sorry for Hillary. And I respect her. But this is slipping away from her, and if she doesn't figure out a graceful way to lose, she's going to bring this election down with her.

In the words of Libby, in "Primary Colors": "Ya gotta be asking yourself right about now -- JUST HOW CRAZY IS LIBBY?"

[idovoodoo]

3. How does Senator Clinton (or the other candidate, for that matter) "bring down the party..."?

Are millions of Democrats suddenly abandoning the party to vote for the Republican nominee? How exactly does your scenario function?


:eyes:

[Demeter]

4. She's Lowering the Tone, Certainly

[saracat]

9. Ah, yes. It does "lower the tone" for Barack to have an opponent.

We should just hand him the nomination just like he got his Senate seat.He isn't really used to having an opponent! LOL!

[InsultComicDog]

7. The argument goes that

She serves as a proxy for the attacks against Obama that ultimately may help the McCain campaign, though these attacks at this point are unlikely to help her as a candidate.

[saracat]

5. First they came for Edwards, now Hillary. Are we to have no choices?

I wanted and still wish Edwards had stayed in till the convention.I want Hillary to stay in.All the states haven't voted.There is more to this process than a popularity contest.And how exactly does the democratic process cause a party 'harm" unless one thinks actual "voting" is dangerous?

[Skittles]

6. isn't it something?

it's as if they don't seem to realize A LOT OF US HAVE NOT VOTED YET

[saracat]

8. What is really interesting is that these same people squawked about a Hillary "coronation"

and now want to anoint Barack. Oy vey!

[Skittles]

10. LOL SARACAT

you are SO correct :thumbsup: