The Democratic Party — crippled for decades by stale ideas that never quite resonated after the turbulent 60’s, humiliated by the perception of weakness against the backdrop of the Cold War and the Reagan Revolution — the party of George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukakis FINALLY broke through the bland barrier when Bill Clinton was discovered in 1992.
The Republicans were so insensed with the DNC’s one shining star that they embarked on an eight year character assassination attempt, culminating with an impeachment trial that produced….. NOTHING.
The Clintons survived every political stick, stone, and scud launched at them. Yet amidst the constant haze of the incessant political battlefield they still managed to make the 90’s one of the most peaceful and prosperous times in American history.
The post-Bill Clinton years were like a time warp. We returned to candidates who were uncomfortable and stiff in debate. Al Gore, much like Jimmy Carter, has proven to be much more interesting far away from the political arena. John Kerry was a dud from the beginning, much like Dukakis. The Massachusetts liberals never had a ghost of a chance in connecting with the vastly diverse American culture.
After eight years of yet another DNC draught, not one but TWO shining stars have emerged. This time, however, each candidate inspires completely different segments of the DNC canvas. Each candidate is flawed in his and her own way. There are doubts that either candidate alone will be able to defeat John McCain in the general election.
But with the Democratic party split almost exactly down the middle, and both candidates drawing a record number of voters to the polls, any sane person in the DNC should have recognized months ago that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama together would be the "unstoppable force" that Bill Clinton spoke of months ago. Call them Yen and Yang.
Hillary Clinton "unleashed" with the backing power of the formidable Clinton machine, along with arguably the most inspirational political figure in 50 years, would have won in November in a landslide. With Hillary at the top of the ticket and the unvetted freshman senator in the V.P. slot, the perfect resolution to the perfect storm would have been complete.
Why Hillary on top? Because not only has all her political dirty laundry been hanging in the wind for 15 years, it has rotted on the clothes line from endless Republican prodding. Barack Obama desperately needs a good, long meet-and-greet with the American public who deserves to know who he really is. Who is Wright, Rezko, Auschi, Odinga, and Ayers? What do they have to do with you? Why does your foreign policy team resemble a bunch of anti-semitic skinheads that would make the Third Reich proud? America will NEVER elect Barack Obama without having satisfactory answers to those questions. Regardless of what Uncle Teddy thinks (Godspeed, Teddy). And six months isn’t enough time to do it.
The DNC has the opportunity to squeeze 16 years out of their two shining stars. Unfortunately, they don’t possess the vision to make that happen. After eight years as Vice President, under the protective wings and guidance of the Clintons, Barack Obama would emerge fully-vetted. At age 54, he could boast that his career never backtracked once in his stellar rise to the White House. He would still be fresh and inspiring.
As things stand now, Barack Obama is lining himself up to be yet another failed DNC attempt at reclaiming the White House. There is simply too much anger within the party for him to even secure a solid blue state victory. After November, he will tip-toe back into the Senate, his collegues glaring at him in dismay. The stellar rise of Barack Obama will suffer a setback that won’t allow him to run again for possibly 8 years. By then, the magic will be gone.
By attempting to play kingmaker for their man Barack Obama, the mainstream media and half of Washington have attempted to destroy the Clintons. In final analysis, they will succeed only in destroying both candidates. Sadly, many in Washington and the mainstream media, whether through greed or vanity, don’t have the intellectual fortitude to see the destruction of their party in the making. I pray my party changes course immediately and stops the bleeding of these self-inflicted wounds. Stop the political assassination of the Clintons now! Make the Clinton/Obama ticket a reality so we can all stand unified in November!
Stand down Michelle Obama! Stand down Keith Olbermann! Stand down Nancy Pelosi!
If only someone would listen…