The culminating event of the primaries will be the upcoming Democratic Convention. Hillary Clinton has evidently taken the upper hand on all fronts in her negotiations with Obama and the Democratic Party. It is now obvious that she came at them hard, heavy and authoritatively. They all caved. What does that say about the decision the Party is about to make? Who exhibits the capacities America desperately requires in its new leader?
We are being subjected to strange whining in the media that the Clintons’ have a need for attention and power, and that the Clintons’ upcoming presentations at the Democratic Convention are nothing more than Hillary and Bill’s egocentric final gasps on the political stage. We are told that the Clintons being given national exposure through use of the podium in Denver, is taking away attention from Obama, and is detrimental to the party. The blame-the-Clintons game is well under way.
We can be swayed by the media and discern this as an annoying last kick at the can by the Clintons, or we can perceive it as an additional window providing insight into two critical players vying for position on the final ticket to the White House. We should also recognize it for what it is, a distinctly adroit maneuver on Hillary’s part, sending notice that she isn’t anyone’s wallflower and remains a proficient force to be contended with on the American political landscape.
Obama could have avoided this very threatening affront to his leadership and capacities, if he had placed Hillary Clinton on the ticket as his Vice President. With Hillary in such position, he would have been in effective control. Why he hasn’t closed that deal is perplexing.
Obama’s political chops may have been earned on the streets of Chicago, but negotiating on the world stage requires an uncommon strength, and will, that goes beyond anything learned. The finer elements are inherent. Pressure tests the mettle. It is therefore to the voters’ advantage that Obama didn’t sweep into victory with an overwhelming number of delegates. All voters are being treated to a display of skills and command of the battlefield that is politics. This will furnish all Americans a finer measure of the candidates, with which to make more educated decisions come the Presidential elections.
It is also inescapable that the Democratic race is not yet determined, nor is an upcoming Democratic White House a foregone conclusion.
Friday, August 15, 2008
• OBAMA’S NEGOTIATING – WEAK or INEPT?
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Your premise works only if you believe the Obama campaign did not invite the Clintons to speak at the convention as a sign of solidarity.
ReplyDeleteGood point, or at least that's how the narrative looks. The whole idea of trying to keep her off the ticket seems to have set her up so that even getting a normal roll call looks like some great victory -- as does the simple normal thing of a popular former presdient getting to give a speech.
ReplyDeleteAnd Hillary isn't really doing anything, publically. She 'conceded' and started supporting Obama and is still talking about fixing the roll call to support him. She's acting like a perfect little Stepford Wife, doing everything she's being asked to do. Reminds me of a judo master just sort of standing there, while the amateur falls over his own feet.
As for 'making her VP', well, for one thing it wouldn't help him in November, as it repels as many people as it attracts.*
For another, Hillary doesn't want to be VP. She's stated that she's happy in the Senate and would only accept VP if requested as a favor by the party. Privately she may be flatly refusing him, letting him save face by not asking her.
Cites at turndownobama.com or my recent diaries at clintondems.com
ROTLBark - Guess ya' never heard the ol' saw, "Don't make ASSumptions'. Assumptuously yours, kentucky girl
ReplyDeleteHillary was able to gain more power in negotiations because of PUMA and other groups fighting on her behalf. She couldn't fight herself but many supporters aren't under any such constraints. We did the fighting and when she got her game back she was ready to negotiate on an stronger position. Supporters have been emailing Pelosi, Dean, and other Superdelegates and delegates to force them to give a better deal to Hillary. Obama's campaign has tried to replace Hillary delegates with Obama supporters (usually successful) and those who insist on going were told to sign loyalty oaths. We complained about this. It is still going on and Kentucky has filed a complaint from the elections commission there for the most recent problems. Obama is the opposite of his persona.
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