The End of the Age of Clinton! now the Concern of Obama to the General

By: Donnell Dike-Anukam

I will say this defiantly and proudly as a student of politics, last night in Cleveland (again Ohio has affected politics again!) at the Democratic debates, Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential chances have effectively ended, that’s the long and short of it! In that so ended Hillary Clinton chances at the presidency possibly permanently; in one fell swoop at most she can hope for now is Nevada Senator Harry Reid's(D) job of Majority Leader in the senate (THAT’s not going to happen).

Last night she had to step to a stage that she very well could not step to nor even imagine how to get there. In effect her performance was emblematic of her whole campaign from start to finish. She was never a truly inspiring icon or figure, she more than anything represented more firsts (the first woman president, the first senator since Kennedy to win the White House, the first chance to win the Democrats to vindicate their "rebirth" from 2006, ect, ect.) than reasons to vote for HER!

The attempt to bring back the past (well only the good stuff) and try to make it work NOW, and in the future as the
ultimate Clinton trump card. I feel it shows a little bit of contempt for the American people and your party; they (the democratic party) to try an rehash the 90's and sell a distinctly different time and place and in effect make a circle peg fit the pentagon peg and say it fits. Negecting the fact that America is no longer the untouchable world power that she was precived to be in the 90's. Another big problem was she was not Bill (Thank god) but, she could not inspire nor motivate enough of her base and the party for to get her through the Obamarama she didn't expect nor plan for. She planned for a full coronation and the wind in her sails not in her face. She adamantly took no attempt to try to contact or meet with regular voters and supporters UNTIL she absolutely had to in New Hampshire. She became alive when it seemed her political chances were in danger. Once she became human it was almost too late and in effect telling of the differences between her and Obama and even more so of that and her claim to fame Bill.

Now flash to Cleveland, and the humanity she attempted to embody was now a liability; she was whinny, defensive not because she felt no one was listening but, because they (the pluralrity of the press) wasn't cow-towing to her, more importantly she showed desperation (the kind that drove Bill and motivated him to fight and show his best colors). She was plain bad and Un-Clinton like afraid, sloppy, and stone faced (she was showing her true feelings there the ones she didn't want to show but was showing, in being just plain scared). From that was in effect to Democrats was Barrack Obama's queue to start the dance to the official crowning in two weeks in Ohio and Texas.

In that night, in that exchange in the first 30 minutes, was Hillary's chance to try and make an Alamo moment (a good valiant battle designed to do what her tears did in New Hampshire) but, more than anything it became a Waterloo (a attack based on bad tactics and bad timing). It has confirmed the end of the Age of Clinton in American Presidential Politics and the age of continuous American political dynasty in this time period at least (In that for the first time since 1980 there will not be a Clinton or a Bush in the executive branch of government).

It has also made it very clear to me that no matter what Bill and the machine that they have created from their minds at Yale Law School will not be able to stop the bleeding of Superdelagates and their potential swing to Obama. Bill himself has become what Hillary does to the general public to many in the Democratic Party. A divisive figure amongst Democratic party elites, activists, and professionals. When Ted Kennedy the day after Bill's comments dismissive comments about Jesse Jackson (in comparison to Obama's victory) came out and supported Obama at American University in Washington. He was in fact as he has done as the old guard of the party said in action "its over" with the Clinton's; that his risky decision to back the young man from Hope in the 92' has run its course and and now in his eyes and rational became time to back "Hope" rather than the man from Hope. 

Bill's plain dirty and disgusting (from some sources) has become anathema to many as a plain betrayal from someone they thought they knew for years and years. That the Bill they have come to know and accept for all his faults and foibles. Finally has reached a breaking point with them, that Bill has become the A-hole boyfriend that they could deal with (and maybe change) because he was protecting them and hurting the opposition has turned on them. The warm and smooth Bill has become the slimy and gruff Billary (one in the same).

More than anything has given more people in the Democratic hierarchy to jump aboard the Obama train and actually has substantiated the arguments the right made in the 90's about them (The Clinton's). Also the liberal wing of the party has a major stake and hunger in ensuring victory in November and have become wise to the fact that NOW Hilary stands more in the way of enabling victory in November than leading it (see DNC chairman Howard Dean blunt statement of trying to get a deal worked out before the two head to Denver and slug it out (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/26/703436.aspx).

So in effect this really won’t be like 1984 (the Superbowl AD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo) from 2006 called it right) where Gary Hart stood against the party establishment but with the grassroots and new energized voters (and without the press coverage Obama has) and Walter Mondale called it all in (favors and all) and cut Hart out of the super-delegates (via career threating and strong-arming late night phone calls to DNC delegates in the dark of night) and thus pushing on to November and losing in one of the most lopsided presidential elections in American history and cementing the strength of the Reagan revolution (thank you Fritz).

Officially the frontrunner mantle can truly go to Obama and that Hillary's claim of being in front and in control (And really you just can't claim that after losing 11 straight contests nationwide, losing in polls where you had a 20+ lead for weeks on end, more importantly and can’t stop the bleeding, you just can't no matter what the size of the states; you’re playing the media game 10 straight losses will always be painted as bad no matter how many big single wins you have (just ask Mitt, who had the same issue with John except John did win a few big ones that’s what was different)) holds no water.

I also thought that last night was a lesson in Media Bias in that the Clinton's FINALLY got a taste of their own medicine that now had taste of what Republican Candidates in most races feel in the eyes of some/plurality of media (It's not so fun nor as fair as one used to say is it, is it!). The last nail in the coffin for Hillary in the eyes of the press and public (me included) is Hillary YOU AREN’T IN THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THE BEGININGS OF THE GENERAL OR IN THE DISSCUSION AT ALL…. WHO IS JOHN TALKING TO…..I’LL LEAVE IT AT THAT!

This has confirmed the worst fears and plans (trust me worried yes, scared crapless NO!) of many in the Republican Party for the general but, I always liken these kind of events to this phrase, "The Chinese have a the same word for crisis as they have for opportunity". In that you have to worry about a very formidable candidate in Obama but, he has a major Achilles heel. He’s not JOHN MCCAIN or like him nor is John a traditional Republican candidate and he (Obama) doesn’t have the wisdom, the skills, and the EXPERENCE that John has (ala` pre-Florida). I will predict this and it will hurt Obama big time from here on out against the Republicans. Barrack Obama is his own worst enemy and I will leave it at that!

Although, The Republicans are in a very hard position in the eyes of the general election, a weak economy, a palatable feeling of discontent and a “throw the bums out” kind of attitude, and a very clear and confusing sense of unease of what tomorrow will bring. Given that I will this say a lot can change between now and November (I always look to 2004 when Kerry lead against Bush by at least 10pts and look what happened). So don’t let those early numbers at caucuses, primaries, and national polls fool you Democrats are good showing up early but, bad at getting those early numbers to translate into November windfalls and Republicans maybe bad at getting attention in media and in the beginning of elections and getting people to show up in the nomination process but, are damn good at getting people to seriously doubt the undoubtable and show up in the polling booths in November with these thoughts in their head and to plain show up. The million dollar question what the hell is going to happen?!

Finally to John do what you do best to beat the newly appointed head of the demogodic party, FIGHT give no quarter, but take high road and FIGHT BECAUSE THATS HOW YOU WILL HAVE TO BEAT HILLARY AND BARACK H. OBAMA and vice-versa. In the words of the great Nevada boxing referee Judge Mills lane “Let get it on”! (RIP WILLIAM BUCKLEY JR. 1926-2008 and thank you!)