Mad As Hell At Clinton? Then She's Winning!!!

[MannyGoldstein]

Look, The Clintons are certainly not stupid, and probably not crazy. They must have known for some weeks that Hillary's chances were approaching nil.

If she's not "in it to win it" - since she can't win it - then why is she still in it? After all, her actions are only causing increased anger now turning into rage, and a decreasing chance of the Democrats winning back the White House in November.

The only "rational" thing that fits Clinton's behavior is that she's trying to gain a shot at the White House in 2012. She's now trying to accomplish the following:

1. To destroy Obama's chances of winning the general election.
2. To build a disturbing but large coalition of Archie Bunkers and Gerry Ferraros who'll power her candidacy in 2012.

By getting everyone up in a lather, she increases the chances of Archies and Gerrys staying home in November - and she's building in them a deep inner anger that can be summoned again at her command for the 2012 race.

The key here is the anger and rage. Without these, her plan fails. It's tough to get angry if your anger simply goes into the void instead of getting a response.

People who respect rules, honesty, and decency have every reason to feel how they feel about The Clintons and their ilk. But if we attack their supporters, we simply help The Clinton's cause - we become their pawns.

[loveable liberal]

1. Makes you wonder how she won her Senate seat.

I'm starting to lose respect for Bill too.

[DontTreadOnMe]

2. just "starting"?

This will hurt her future politcal career.

[muleboy303]

3. more than a village...

the statements/arguments/intimations made by the Clintons so far in 2008 with regard to Barack Obama (race, inexperience, electability, and "out-of-touchness" i.e. elitist/radical/weak) can equally support three ideas:

a. the Clintons have finally realized that they have lost this one and are now implementing a strategy to make Obama unelectable in the fall

b: the Clintons discerned months ago that this race would go to the convention and set about, "by any means necessary", to wrest the nomination away ala 'December 2000'

c: the Clintons are laying down the 'stabbed in the back' predicate for an "Independent-Democrat" run, ala Joseph Lieberman's 2006 Senate victory.

(hell, they could be doing all three at the same time and waiting for time and events to decide which is the most politically viable)


UPDATE: if the internet rumour-mill (Maureen Dowd) is even tangentially accurate... then

d. the Clintons realized, beginning with Super Tuesday, that the VP slot was the most achievable within reason, and upon encountering rebuff after rebuff from the Obama(s), (up to and including a 'reported' firm "NO" to Bill's "offer" last week) now find themselves having pursued a failed strategy of trying to make just enough trouble (while always hoping for that gaffe/story/vote/gamechanger that never came) to convince Obama of the necessity/pragmatism of offering (accepting?) Hillary on the Ticket.

-----
30 years+ of observing the Clintons, up close and from afar, has taught me to believe and expect the worst of/from them, but i also believe that:

1. the Clintons truly believe that Hillary is the ONLY person who should ever even be considered to be the next President of the United States. (and that's not just "entitlement", though it certainly is that also, but they also simply feel that they are smarter, stronger, and tougher than anyone else)

2. the Clintons (along with many others, probably millions) truly believe that the current culture and political climate of the United States has not yet evolved to the point where it is possible for a minority (of any kind, no matter how talented or novel) to be elected President of the United States.

It is going to take a helluva lot more than a village to prove to the Clintons, that:

a. they're WRONG
b. the times have changed more than enough to elect a minority President
c. they're not THAT smart (or strong, or tough)

http://muleboy303-stephenhsmith.blogspot.com/2008/05/more-than-village.html

[avenger64]

4. Well, at least mathematically speaking, she can win it ...

... if she wins enough superdelegates. Obama has not hit the magic number yet, and he now trails in the popular vote, not to mention that he trails McCain in the key swing states of FL and OH. The SDs need to take all of this into consideration, and make the right decision (Clinton).

[Windy]

6. Oh please. She is NOT winning the popular vote. I know you people think that caucus states don't

matter and she should get ALL the votes in Michigan, however, you calculus based upon faulty vote counts borders on delirium!!

[Why Syzygy]

5. I'm not angry today. Just sick of her being tedious.

[Why Syzygy]

7. kick

:kick:

[IsItJustMe]

8. I think you are over thinking. What you have witnessed in this campaign is that the Clintons are

who they are. They are divisive old school politicians that will try to win by all means necessary. That simple. It did not work.

[SayitAintSo]

9. Agreed...Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one...n/t