Don't Count Her Out Just Yet

Woofuckinghoo! Clinton wins Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island despite Obama having way out spent her in the two bigger contests. And, she wins big.

I hope all the pundits and naysayers who were predicting the end of her run for the presidency are enjoying the taste of crow. Anyone has paid attention to Hillary Clinton over the last two decades knows this: it's always a mistake to count her out. She's tough-minded, determined, and committed to the causes she believes in. And, she doesn't give up easily. Folks can, and should, critique her tactics, but even her most ardent critics know not to assume she's not up to the challenge.

So the contest continues as it should. I would encourage those who are calling for an end to the primary season because it's gone on too long or long enough to take a look back to previous democratic primaries. As primaries go, this has been a close race for sure, but it hasn't been a long one as far as primaries go. Bill Clinton didn't lock-up the nomination until April and John Kerry didn't name a running mate until July 6, 2004. What makes the process seem so long is that some of the candidates started running a year ahead of the primary season (Obama Jan 16, 2007 and Clinton Jan 22, 2007).

I don't think continuing the process will hurt the democratic party or our opportunity to elect a democrat in November. In fact, I think it will help. It will keep the supporters of Obama and Clinton focused on the contest, it will allow each candidate to go after McCain's weaknesses--and there are enough of those to go around--and it will  help each candidate improve upon his/her stump speeches and debate performances. Debating Hillary Clinton again and again has certainly helped Obama become much more effective in debates, and as each candidate becomes better at clarifying and articulating his/her positions, each will be in a better position to take on McCain.

Let's face the facts. A close race keeps interest and turnout high, and the fact that our two candidates are  an African American and a woman makes this contest one of major historical significance. Continuing the primaries will keep both candidates sharp and will meant that McCain to divide his attacks, all-the-while getting hammered by both Clinton and Obama.

As a life-long democrat, a Hillary supporter and a political junkie, I couldn't be happier.

Comments

[pi]

And I couldn't be more depressed. If I believed that the two of them would debate the issues over the next few months and sharpen their skills to go up against McCain, maybe I'd share your excitement, but this morning they were sniping at each other again, and I fear that they will do nothing but beat the shit out of each other (to McCain's glee and the country's detriment) until the convention. They are going to hammer each other, not McCain. Clinton has revealed herself in the past week or so to be what I always knew she was (and I don't mean that in a good way) and as a result, McCain will probably be our president in November.

Wow. Can you believe how out of sync we are on this? Have we ever disagreed so much about anything????????

[desertdemocrat]

Our differences here are pretty amazing considering how much we're usually in sync, but we have disagreed somewhat about politics before if I recall. Never to this extent, though.

Perhaps we need some quality time together to have some coffee/tea, conversation, and dream sharing so we can get back in sync?

[pi]

Yeah, I wish. With our financial situation right now, it won't be happening for a while. Unless we do it virtually.

But I don't think there's any way to get me to your side. Right now, she's the personification of evil in my eyes, the worst thing that can happen :-)

[desertdemocrat]

wow! how do you really feel about her? :-)

[joanna]

I don't think she's evil, but every time I think of supporting her because she's tough, experienced, and brilliant, I start thinking about Whitewater, Vince Foster and so on. And then I think about Obama and I wonder if he has the experience to carry it off once he's in office. I don't think he's ready--yet. But I think he could be the candidate in another election. And then I think of McCain and I worry.