Taking Off the Shoulder Pads
Taking Off the Shoulder Pads
by Jean Carnahan
Recently Bill Clinton gave
us his version of Harry Truman’s political adage: “If you can’t take the heat,
get out of the kitchen.” Clinton’s
platitude is less memorable, but goes something like this, “If you don’t want
to get hit, don’t put on the shoulder pads.”
We all know that politics is a contact sport. But, athletes—unlike some politicians—know when
the game’s over. Prize fighters know
when to throw in the towel. Pro-football
players know when it’s time to pursue another line of work.
A number of candidates have already faced up to reality
and made the painful decision that it was time to hang up their shoulder
pads. Not wanting to call the game,
Coach Bill Clinton is arguing for more time on the clock. And, Al Gore and Ralph Nader are suiting up
in case there’s an injury.
Sens.
Chris Dodd, Ted Kennedy, and Patrick Leahey, respected members of the
Democratic team, have raised their voices in unison, declaring, “Enough!” I suspect that there will be others as the
weeks unfold and the inevitability of Barack Obama’s nomination becomes more
apparent.
Creative
ideas for a resolution are beginning to stir.
The most convoluted comes from political consultant Eric Schmeltzer, who
suggested the following scenario: Unless
Hillary wins Pennsylvania by more than 65%, the three hundred or so uncommitted
super delegates endorse Obama. Hillary
suspends her race. She need not drop out
or stop raising money, just stop campaigning against Obama.
She
would get the nomination only if Obama stumbles so badly that he is deemed
unelectable. In which case, he would
step back and Hillary would become the nominee.
If he refused, he would be forced out if 2/3s of those three hundred
supers determine that he is unelectable.
Intriguing
though it sounds, the proposal has too many moving parts and involves far too
many egos. There are a couple of simpler
proposals floating around in the blogosphere. One calls for Hillary to run for Mayor of New York.
Another calls for an agreement between
the two candidates to select each other as a running mate.
We don’t yet have a satisfying solution to the
Democratic debacle, but it’s this kind of creative thinking that gives me hope
that one is possible.
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shoulder pads?
"s"
According to today's polls,
Here's a thought.
Have faith in the electoral process and allow the election to run it's course. Allow people to choose who they want to vote for. Anything else is undemocratic and will confirm for many the mantra "it doesn't do any good to vote because the party elite are going to pull strings to get what and who they want" with the end result of causing democratic voters to either drop out of the general election or vote for someone else thus allowing McCain to get into the White House.
In short, you and the party elite need to stop trying to stack the deck. If you want to change the rules, do so after the convention.
I absolutely agree with
I absolutely agree with you, oldelady. The party elite--like the Carnahans--are trying to step in and subvert the democratic process. How ironic as it was they who whined around about Florida and pushed to have every vote count in 2000. Now they want to disenfrancise FL and MI voters and push Hillary out prematurely. Mark my words, if you all keep pushing, we will be saying "President McCain" for the next 4-8 years.
BTW, former Sen. Carnahan, have you seen the latest head-to-head polls for Obama against McCain (and Clinton against McCain) for OH & FL? Cherrio losing in the fall!
* Florida: Clinton 44 percent - McCain 42 percent; McCain beats Obama 46 - 37 percent;
* Ohio: Clinton beats McCain 48 - 39 percent; Obama gets 43 percent to McCain's 42 percent;
(Margin of error +/- 3)
Right Arm!
Strategy is one thing, subverting the voting process is another.