DNC Day Two: Saint Hillary
Oh those poor, poor deluded PUMAS and other assorted and crazed Hillaryoids. Senator Clinton spends months and millions (which she still owes) during the primaries to artificially inflate their expectations about her winning the nomination -- which was already lost. Then she stokes them some more by attempting to lamely game the party over the Michigan and Florida non-elections. Then she sort of concedes, but also wryly winks at her furious and martyred legions as they trudge toward Denver and threaten to pull apart the whole show.
All this so that on Day Two of the DNC she can appear on the podium in prime times with a gigantic sledgehammer and mercilessly crush all of her loyal troops as if they were so many bugs!
She did it by "doing what she had to do" as they say in pundit speak. Hillary, I must admit, gave a rip-roaring barn-burner of a speech -- unequivocally, fervently, and repeatedly demanding that her supporters get obediently into line behind Barack Obama. Her loving husband, captured in a gallery of camera close-ups, seemed so overcome by her generosity of spirit that his middle name might as well been Hussein!
Hillary made a powerful argument aimed at any still-reluctant followers, scolding them that a presidenial election was about a lot more than just supporting her --or any other single individual-- but was instead about determining the future of a nation.
This was wonderful, unbridled Clinton cynicism, given that it was she who had made the campaign all about herself. She also omitted one other little niggling detail: the reason she had to cajole her supporters back into the Obama camp is because she so determinedly led them astray during five crucial months of this campaign season -- basically since early March when she had effectively lost the nomination.
In any case, Hillary had no other viable choice tonight. She and everyone around her knows that if she didn't go all out in her support, if she didn't personally suffocate even the rumor of discontent at the Convention, and if Obama were to lose in November, she would be regarded as an uber-spoiler. So much more the timely for her to choose the path of righteousness.
God Bless America. And, God Bless Hillary Clinton. Our Savior.
P.S. After I wrote this post I saw this fine piece by Dickerson. He makes an excellent point.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I’m weeping with joy at this salvation, Marc.
I feel so cleansed, so liberated, so purged, down to my wallet .
Or thereabouts.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
C’mon Marc. That was too easy for you. That was your standard stump speech.
Where’s the love?
August 26th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Love? You gotta be kidding, right?
August 27th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Kidding about 99% Thought you might let the radio listeners know what color the pant suit was.
I think I’ve followed your bead on Hillary for a good while. Been in agreement with your rap on her by basically the same % So, I’m not surprised by how this post comes out.
She gave great speech. Great punch lines. High five Hillary!
But she’s also a potential arsonist who’s been selling water hoses. Test drove the GOP script for several months in PA, Ohio, West Virginia… Completely reckless to have campaigned the way she did. Supreme hubris fueled by denial. And here tonight, as I heard on the radio, she tells all it’s not about her.
What’s the question to be asked of Clinton supporters now? Will they support Sen. Obama or not? After tonight, if they say they are going to go for McCain anyways, they were probably GOP seeds all along.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Ya Marc - you should show more love for Hillary. Her entire career has been about helping others: from Walmart to Coca-cola, to shady real estate investors, she’s always been about helping the little guy get a little bit ahead.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Is it okay to say “niggling?”
August 27th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Quite a crackling sense of humor you’re showing there, Woody. As usual.
I’m more worried about what “a presidenial election” might mean.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Like I said at Celeste’s, Hillary tried to lay down a sacrific bunt, but she couldn’t advance the runner.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:51 am
When it comes to critiques of the Clintons, Marc clearly aims for quantity and regularity, rather than quality.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:58 am
regularity ??
Well, that’s evocative. And, probably best left alone, huh?
August 27th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Nora Ephron has a similar view: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nora-ephron/hillary-the-admonisher_b_121791.html
I agree except that HRC did say quite a bit about McCain being against Roe v. Wade etc. in her Emily’s List speech.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:36 am
An alternative view, with some useful history:
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200808260005
August 27th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Ephron’s comments on the “Hillraisers” are right on point. Also, I didn’t think about it or remember the details of her speech, but if she didn’t hammer on Roe v. Wade, that’s very weird and very stupid.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Right on the mark, reg. Why is no one talking about the Supreme Court? I realize that bell has been rung before. but it’s the one thing true feminists would have to concede. McCain would almost certainly appoint a right-wing judge. Obama most certainly would appoint a progressive. And it’s not just Roe v Wade. Lily Ledbetter, who has become a feminist standard-bearer, spoke to the convention about how her claim for equal pay was eviscerated by the Supreme Court, which it was, in a terrible decision. But she did not make a point that we need to elect Obama to make sure the next case is not gutted like hers was, 5-4. I thought sure Hillary would make this point, or some point re: federal judges, but no. I think I understand some of what is going on in this unique convention, but not the failure to discuss what has happened and could happen to the Supreme Court.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
“the reason she had to cajole her supporters back into the Obama camp is because she so determinedly led them astray during five crucial months of this campaign season — basically since early March when she had effectively lost the nomination.”
Good observation Marc, even for a guy who sees the world through very high-quality sunglasses.
The whole PUMA phenomenon seems amazing to me. Does anyone know how many of these Nobama folks there were before she began the scorched earth campaign in March?
Is it strictly an artifact of all the goalpost-moving and grievance-mongering that began around that time?
August 27th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
What really amazes me is that she’s created this Joan-of Arc phenomenon and has never seemed at all charismatic. For instance, as a public speaker she has nowhere near the talent or presence that Michelle Obama has. At her best Hillary’s conscientious and smart, but hardly messianic material. Is the non-charisma part of her appeal? Is that what the die-hards identify with?
August 27th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Marc: “…given that it was she who had made the campaign all about herself. ”
Oh Puhleze Marc, as if the narcissism of the Obama camp wasn’t out there for all to see.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
It’s interesting that since defending the deft and experienced Hillary Clinton against the injustices inflicted on her by the preening neophyte Obamaites has become a central GOPer talking point in recent days, GM Roper - of all people - has risen to the occasion.
Since Hugh Hewitt, Malkin and the McCainiacs have moved on to the Bombing Bill Ayers pseudo-issue, expect to hear lots about this one forthcoming from our stalwarts of Wingnutville.
Obama can’t do it, but of course McCain, not Ayers, is the guy who actually killed people with bombs in the Sixties and, ironically, McCain feels he didn’t do enough: “In Faith of My Fathers he describes how, looking down at Soviet ships unloading arms in Vietnamese ports and at the construction of surface-to-air-missile sites, he chafed at the ‘frustratingly limited bombing targets’ that restricted air raids to military installations, roads, bridges and power plants, calling such constraints ’senseless’ and ‘illogical.’ ‘We thought our civilian commanders were complete idiots,’ he wrote.” (The Nation)
McCain is one of those monstrous nutcases like Curtis LeMay who still believes the problem with the Vietnam War was that the US didn’t unleash nearly enough slaughter or drop enough bombs. Frankly, the guy’s lucky he was saved from drowning by the “gooks” (as he fondly refers to them) who found him and even made it to a POW camp.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Incidentally, McCain is referring to the SAM sites situated in and around Hanoi which were during most of the war exempted from attack because of the impact on civilian population. The reason Soviet ships weren’t destroyed is pretty obvious. McCain is a crank in the LeMay mold on the question of Vietnam - which helps understand stupid shit like his “Bomb, bomb Iran” ditty. McCain - who has no strategic military experience at all (and lost five planes over the course of his career as a pilot) - is not competent to be Commander in Chief. McCain’s warped, infantile perspective on national security and military matters is a central issue of this election.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
reg: “It’s interesting that since defending the deft and experienced Hillary Clinton against the injustices inflicted on her by the preening neophyte Obamaites has become a central GOPer talking point in recent days, GM Roper - of all people - has risen to the occasion. ”
sheesh, talk about twisted reasoning… reg old top, you have to know that I have NEVER been a fan of her majesty Queen Hillary the first…. but to decry her speech as narcissistic while supporting that supreme narcissist Obama is just a tad more than this ole boy can tolerate.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
reg: McCain is one of those monstrous nutcases like Curtis LeMay who still believes the problem with the Vietnam War was that the US didn’t unleash nearly enough slaughter or drop enough bombs.
I don’t see a source for your conclusion and don’t believe that you could possibly know what was going through McCain’s mind during the war or that he had enough knowledge to make that decision, as he was taken out of the war for the last six years as a POW. Yeah, I know that you think he is a baby killer and deserved it.
But, you defend Obama as a better Commander-in-Chief with his extensive experience as a one-termer in the Illinois legislature and a mostly absent half-term in the U.S. Senate. Wow! What a resume’. But, the Russians didn’t invade Illinois, so let’s give Obama credit.
It’s nice to know, too, that you defend terrorist bomber Bill Ayers. We now know how Obama would deal with terrorists. He would become friends and serve on boards with them.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
An important film to watch for those on the bad side of Obama friend Bill Ayers.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Sen. Kerry: Great job!
August 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Rob, stay tuned for John Kerry, Part II, where he flip-flops.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
In re: Kerry. It must have been god awful tough to do that. Imagine: being the Dems last nominate and not getting elected. I mean where do the schedulers even fill him in? Wednesday night between Clinton and Biden.
Awkward.
I’ll bet Kerry spoke while the nation went to the loo.
Shame if ya missed it.
He did a parody of the swift-boating that was set upon him and applied all the punch lines to Sen. McCain. Oh, that was so 4 years ago? Give the man a break. You, know, if anyone has a problem with the swift-boating getting thrown back, a la return to sender, even 4 years late, whatever. Shouldn’t have been employed in ’04. Totally disgusting. Anyways, he pulled it of quite well, including a doozy of line about McCain debating himself.
Excellent marks for testimonial for Sen. Obama.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Kerry:
Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain’s own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you’re against it.
Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself. And what’s more, Senator McCain, who once railed against the smears of Karl Rove when he was the target, has morphed into candidate McCain who is using the same “Rove” tactics and the same “Rove” staff to repeat the same old politics of fear and smear. Well, not this year, not this time. The Rove-McCain tactics are old and outworn, and America will reject them in 2008.
So remember, when we choose a commander-in-chief this November, we are electing judgment and character, not years in the Senate or years on this earth. Time and again, Barack Obama has seen farther, thought harder, and listened better. And time and again, Barack Obama has been proven right.
When John McCain stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier just three months after 9/11 and proclaimed, “Next up, Baghdad!”, Barack Obama saw, even then, “an occupation of “undetermined length, undetermined cost, undetermined consequences” that would “only fan the flames of the Middle East.” Well, guess what? Mission accomplished.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
That was johnny-on-the-spot…
August 27th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Gotta give the Clintons credit for giving damn good speeches for Obama.
Hillary really likes the butch haircut and pants. I don’t understand why. Thatcher and Meir did damn good without them. Then again, they really were tough……and knew it.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Tough women must get Jim R all excited…I bet he pops a few woodies just thinking about them…I wonder if he tells his wife…