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Disgraceful Loser Scenarios
As Hillary goes ever more Republican, there may be more scenarios to worry about than sour grapes within the Democratic Party. She has already shown herself willing to cost the Democrats this election for the tiniest chance at winning the nomination. She is crossing the border into Joe Lieberman territory at the very least; ZellMillerland lies just around the bend. So three questions:
1. Does Hillary feel such a deep, intrinsic entitlement to the presidency that she will run as a third-party candidate as Lieberman did when denied Connecticut's Democratic nomination for the Senate?
2. Is Hillary's continuing praise of John McCain - most recently on the environment - setting up a McCain-Clinton ticket?
3. Will Hillary be the surprise keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention?
Comments (7)
1. She cannot raise enough money to do that.
2. No.
3. No.
April 18, 2008 7:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree completely. I'll even go a step further. She wouldn't run as an independent even if she could raise the money. I take issue with a lot of her actions during this campaign, but I honestly think she's doing what she thinks is best for the party and the nation. Even if you want to be completely cynical, there's no way she'd win as an independent, and if it was perceived that the cost Obama the election, not only would she not get another chance at running for President (as a Dem), she would seriously risk losing her Senate seat.
April 18, 2008 8:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hope you're both right, but she's coming over as petty, vindictive and devoted to the great cause of her personal ambition. Furthermore:
1. She has enough money to finance her own presidential campaign. She has burned her bridges in the Democratic Party; if she isn't nominated after all she's done to offend so many Democrats, she's had it as a Democratic candidate on the national level. She has nothing to lose.
2. The Republicans know this is a tough year for them, Hillary and McCain speak warmly of each other, and a McCain-Clinton ticket would take the center, most independents, a significant chunk of Democratic voters, and all chances of victory away from the Democrats. It would lift the prospects of many down-ticket Republicans. McCain is old enough to promise to step aside after one term. Some Republicans realize continuing to pander exclusively to a rightwing base is a losing proposition down the road. McCain and Hillary could try to revive the Nelson Rockefeller/John Lindsay wing of the Republican Party while holding on to the saner parts of the right. They could bring over the Blue Dogs and DINOs from the Dems, while marginalizing the rightwing extremists in the Republican base. That might even be good for the country in the long run. Hillary has burned her bridges in the African American community, and the labor movement continues to shrink. She'd be leaving behind a lot of baggage and a fatally wounded Democratic base. What would she be giving up in changing parties, other than convictions we once thought she held? In the Republican Party, she would be a breath of fresh air, a true reformer, and proof positive of political bankruptcy on the Democratic side.
3. Agree Hillary's giving the keynote is the longest of long shots because there isn't enough in it for Hillary. What scares me is linking her Republicanization in this campaign with her Republican upbringing and her time as a Young Republican and Barry Goldwater fan. She could play the returning prodigal daughter, though this would work better in scenario 2.
Stranger things have happened. She's already astonished and disappointed me a thousand ways in this campaign.
April 18, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
A McCain/Clinton ticket would cause them to lose more than half their base. Die hard Republicans hate Clinton, and have spent over a decade practicing this hate. If she ran as McCain's VP, it'd be the best thing for the Democratic party (in the sense of guaranteeing a win).
April 18, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ben, you're right, die hard Republicans hate Hillary. She would have to convince them she's had a Saul/Paul conversion on the road to the White House. It would be tough to pull off. On the other hand, the Republicans like to win elections and she could help them win this one against all odds.
At this point, it's unclear to me, based on her behavior, that there is anything she wouldn't do if she thought it would increase by 1% the chances of someday fulfilling her ambitions.
April 18, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it intersting how what Hillary believes is best for the country, so much so that she seems willing to greatly risk McCain becomming President, just so happens to coincide with what is best for Hillary? Political leaders who are fighters are fine, so long as they understand its us they're supposed to be fighting for.
April 18, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Most of us can be guilty of believing what we want to believe.
April 18, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
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