I wanted to see Obama win the nomination but now...

[misanthrope]

...I can see something more painful in the short term unfolding that might make things better for the Dems, and possibly even progressives, in the long run.

H. Clinton continues her present scorched earth policy. It wears on voters and the public in general. The acrimony further divides the party.

The GOP builds a war chest, heightens focus for the November battle and watches the blood flow on the Dem side.

Clinton draws closer to Obama. The convention ensues and a bitter fight unfolds wherein Clinton takes the nomination. Obama graciously accepts his fate and heads back to the Hill.

Hillary gets her own dose of "kitchen sink" treatment from the GOP and all of her negatives Obama has refused to fully exploit are laid bare for the nation. She loses in November.

The next four years will get very ugly if McCain continues Bush's failed policies. Iraq doesn't change. Anti-American sentiment escalates. Oil prices climb further. The economy heads straight into the tank caught between international forces and the economic sponge of the Iraqi War.

Meanwhile, the truth finally settles in for Dems as they contemplate how they could have lost in 2008 and the masks are finally removed from the Clintons once and for all. Their legacy is rightfully tarnished and the Democratic Party regains its soul from the DLC. Obama gains much needed heft to his resume and perspective on the Hill, takes the Dem nomination in 2012 via higher minded politics and trounces the incumbent in November of that year.

[TheDeathadder]

1. nice look in the crystal ball

but in mine she wins the presidency.

[misanthrope]

2. That would be pure fantasy...

...there's no way she wins the White House. There's just too much going against her.

[LeftCoast]

3. What, like massive turnout for Democratic primaries and the massive fundraising advantage?

Not to mention that McC can't even get his own house in order. Half the rw base hates him.

[misanthrope]

4. Believe what you want**nm

**

[LeftCoast]

5. Those are facts, not beliefs.

[cali]

7. More facts:

Hillary's high negatives.
Hillary's lack of appeal to independents and white male democrats.
Hillary's problem with disaffected African Americans.
The deleterious effect of a long acrimonious primary season that goes on until the convention.

I'm not saying that these facts make Hillary unelectable, I am saying you can't just be selective about facts.

[LeftCoast]

8. That's a far cry from "...there's no way she wins the White House"

That's all I'm trying to say.

[TheDeathadder]

11. Obama has a slight lead in delegates

Obama negatives are now just as high.

Clinton has won more of the big states

This is going to be a battle and the super-delegates vote on their own judgment, it's their vote to make, those are the rules. This is going to be a real primary and we're going to have a real convention.

This thing is neck and neck and Clinton is going to win.

Reply all you want it won't change reality, but Clinton will save America.

WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH FANTASY...THIS IS ALL REALITY...BELIEVE IT

[cali]

17. Of course I'll reply to your silly little faux-crystal ball reading- with

scorn. Neither you nor I nor anyone else knows who will be the nominee. duh. It's likelier that Obama will, but Clinton could certainly pull it off. Hillary hasn't been gaining SDs. Obama has. The gap has gone from around 150 to 40. According to all reports, Obama has more SD endorsements he will be releasing. Obama will grow his pledged delegate lead in MS and WY. And then? Anything could happen. There's 6 wees between MS and PA. Clinton could win big... or not. Clinton's campaign could collapse or Obama's could. Scandal could hit either one.

That's reality, not your childish pretend oracle act, dear.

[TheDeathadder]

18. We'll see at the Convention

Dear

[Buve]

12. WHAT

Clinton wins white male democrats
Clinton wins female democrats
Clinton brings in new hispanic voters

African americans might be an issue depending on Obama in the GE.

[cali]

15. Nope. She does not win white male dems

Obama does. And many have said if she's the nominee, they'll go with McCain. I'm not condoning that- I deplore it- but it is a problem for her.

And African Americans will be a problem for her if she's the nominee unless Obama is on the ticket.

Younger voters also are unlikely to turn out in significant numbers for her.

[TheDeathadder]

9. Obama has a slight lead in delegates

Clinton has won more of the big states

This is going to be a battle and the super-delegates vote on their own judgment, it's their vote to make, those are the rules. This is going to be a real primary and we're going to have a real convention.

This thing is neck and neck and Clinton is going to win.

Reply all you want it won't change reality, but Clinton will save America.

WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH FANTASY...THIS IS ALL REALITY...BELIEVE IT :)

[MojoMojoMojo]

13. Obama may be damaged goods ,may have taken "loan" from Iraqi Billionaire

I want the full details before Obama is the nominee.
The Times London `says Obama took a "loan" from Auchi for his Senate campaign.Was it millions of dollars?

Was it from a corporation ?
It was a Panamanian foreign corporation owned by Auchi.
How can this be legal?I thought Federal candidates are not allowed donations from corporations.
Resco took $3.5 million from Auchi 3 weeks before Obamas house deal.
Did Obama buy his house with the Iraqi money?

[Snowbot]

14. So what is your point?

[Jawja]

22. Nice analysis and I agree

with it. I also agree that no way Hillary wins the GE, especially if she wins the nomination leaving a bitterly divided Democratic Party.

Perhaps after FOUR MORE YEARS of war and a bad economy and criminal government policies, the public will be ready to embrace REAL change?

[Snowbot]

6. Great post.

Except the part of us going through a McCain presidency. I won't vote for Hillary because of IWR. But I won't vote for McCain either. I suspect I'm not alone in that. The question is how much would Hillary strong arming the nomination cause new voters and African Americans to stay at home on election day.

[misanthrope]

10. I'd rather a Repub get stuck with it...

...because there's a really good chance the next POTUS is about to get nailed with the worst part of the last eight years of policy. If someone is going to pick up the odor from that, I'd rather it be someone who sold out the way McCain has to gain this nomination.

[Jawja]

25. Again, another great point.

If the Democratic Party can't come together and peacefully decide on a nominee that has a chance to defeat McCain, at least the Rethugs will be stuck with the mess THEY created and they can't point a finger at anyone else for the disaster THEY have been.

A small consolation, I guess.

[MrSlayer]

16. I was thinking along these lines earlier.

Just let her have it and lose and maybe we'll be done with them altogether. But I keep thinking about the Supreme Court. Obama, who wasn't my first choice, to me is more electable in the general and is our best shot. He should fight for the nomination until the end as Hillary surely will.

[amborin]

19. Hillary has been thoroughly vetted, it's Obama who's about to face the music

[blm]

32. Then tell us who Jackson Stephens is.

.

[Saturday]

20. Whatever. nt

[Kaylee]

21. 3 Supreme Court Justices........

It is too dangerous to "let" McCain win. Obama must win and now.

[RBInMaine]

23. Relax, work for Obama, and let the process play out.

[JoFerret]

24. ...and the waters part, the sky darkens

and the voice of God is heard amid celestial choirs and all the people step into the Mississippi and drown.

[misanthrope]

31. I thought that was Hagee's account of Katrina?**nm

**

[midora]

26. I Can See this Happening

HRC could win the nomination--her negative tactics seem to be succeeding and she has won some important states--but I think she would get hers in the general election. Nobody plays hardball better than the Republicans, not even HRC. HRC could emerge bloodied from the general election, decimating her chances of running again in 2012. The Democrats would never again put forward such a divisive candidate. Obama could still run in 2012, with the Democrats firmly united, after 4 disastrous years of yet another Republican administration.

[Perry Logan]

27. If we were only half as good at fighting Republicans as we are at predicting defeat for ourselves!

[printpolitico]

28. tarot cards

Silly way to look at our future. Pessimistic approach

[misanthrope]

33. I beg to differ...

...the scenario results in the Democratic Party ridding itself of a burden (the Clintons and their ilk) and regaining their sense of direction amidst a public rebuke of neo-con ideals and policy.

[WDIM]

29. Meanwhile McCain Bombs Iran

Ruins already straining relations with Russia. Puts us back at the brink of Nuclear war. Pushes oil up to $300 a barrel. Invades Venezuela and overthrows Chavez. All while the US economy goes down the drain and millions die of curable diseases.
Wait I could see Clinton doing the same things.

We better hope Obama wins this he's our last best hope.

[mmonk]

30. We can't wait until 2012.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. What a nightmare scenario and a shame, but . . .

if Hillary steals the nomination from Obama, I'd sit out the GE and hope she gets her head handed to her by the Rethugs so Obama can come back in 2012. Hillary has cemented her place in history, regardless of which way this goes, as a divider, not a uniter. What a disaster!

[Megahurtz]

35. Hallucinate much?