The Democratic Quandary
April 24th, 2008 at 12:38am Mark Noonan
Lanny Davis neatly lays it out:
To all Super Delegates: you decide who is riskier as a general election candidate. The candidate whose negatives, driven by the right-wing hate machine in the 1990s in particular, are all out there and already taken into account. Or a candidate who is still virtually unknown to most of the electorate, with Republicans clearly looking forward to filling in the blanks with the facts about his record of which many general election voters still are not aware.
Davis pointed out some of the weaknesses of Obama in the linked article - especially the polling showing Obama even with or behind McCain, while Hillary generally leads McCain where it counts (though, even there, Democrats have some worries - Democrats always poll better than GOPers far out from the vote…and while Hillary leads, it is only a small lead…nothing like the lead held at this time of year by Gore or Dukakis during their runs).
There are sharp divisions growing in the Democratic party and while a lot of Democrats are saying Humpty Dumpty can be put back together again for the fall, the fact that Obama cannot break out of his upper-class white/black support shows that he will have a heavy handicap going into the fall…while the way the left loathes Hillary will work strongly against her in a fall campaign.
Fun, fun, fun; ain’t it?
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
6 Comments
1. aunty belle | April 24th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Hoo-whee, yep, we’s havin’ a barrel of fun anfd then some.
But…heh heh..have ya’ll heard that Hillary says she will “obliterate” Iran if they aim a missile at Israel?
Bet that rocked a few libs!
2. Democratic » The De&hellip | April 24th, 2008 at 2:48 am
[...] All Spin Zone wrote an interesting post today on The Democratic QuandaryHere’s a quick excerptThere are sharp divisions growing in the Democratic party and while a lot of Democrats are saying Humpty Dumpty can be put back together… [...]
3. majoriot | April 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
What I see, and hear, is the racism of some Democrats coming to light. I heard a guy on a call-in show talking about how Obama is black and a Muslim. That was a problem for him. The commentator corrected him on both counts, but you could tell he was uncomfortable with Obama.
4. Rightland | April 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
With a large rift already created and growing wider with ever passing day in the Democratic Party things look increasing more promising for McCain.
Hillary, if she can continue her winning ways in the remaining 8 or 9 races, will be enthroned as the Donk’s candidate. I believe the Clinton machine has yet to start seriously twisting the arms of the Super delegates, but it’s coming and when it does they’ll knuckle under and she’ll win.
Hence, we see the potential for great unrest amongst the unwashed of the left come November. What would save the Donks? The dream ticket. Why does that have a better chance of becoming reality than is generally accepted in conservative circles? Obama is young. He has plenty of time. He’s inexperienced, hence somewhat naive and without this ticket the Democratic Party cannot serious compete for the Presidency in the fall.
Therefore, he’ll take one for the team, accepted the vice presidential slot believing he’ll have his chance in eight years. Obama will be blissfully unaware that Hillary’s policies will create economic chaos. Universally health care will reduce both the quality and quantity of medical services available to the masses, whom the majority of have enjoyed private health insurance and medical care. Acts of terror will increase, while such groups multiple in strength and number because, they are allowed to procreate unopposed by a gutless US administration.
I hope the GOP takes theses factors into consideration as McCain selects his running mate. The real chance for a GOP victory in the fall lies in taking the middle Road. That’s what makes McCain, (possible the best) a good candidate.
Whom should he select for his running mate? The strongest ticket I can conceive of is one that will attract both Independents and working class Reaganites whom are registered as Democrats. The hard right has no choice at this point, but to vote for the lesser of all evils or just to stay home. However, staying home is almost as bad a voting for the greater evil, so I don’t think they will.
These factors make a McCain Lieberman ticket unbeatable in fall. I’m no lover of the left and I’m right of center both fiscally and socially, but I’m also pragmatic. With the House and Senate in the hands of the left and it looking likely they’ll increase the spread there, we need to check that power, so we have to win in November.
5. Joe | April 24th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Gee Rightland, why do we even have to live the next 8 years? You seem to have it all figured out. Obama will take one for the team and be VP. Clinton will twist arms of the SuperDelegates and win. Her policies wrck this great nation.
Wow… you must be some kind of genius that you know all of this.
Oh wait… then you make this statement…
These factors make a McCain Lieberman ticket unbeatable in fall
Please please PLEASE make it be a McCain/Lieberman ticket!!!!!!!
You sure didn’t think that one thru now, did you? McCain is running as the “Never Surrender in Iraq” candidate. His other policies (voting against tax cuts, his abortion votes and his immigration) are not going to appeal to the GOP base. All Lieberman gets him is another “Never Surrender in Iraq” cheerleader. Other than that, Lieberman is liberal in all other views. Again… not what the GOP base wants.
But hey… you seem to know exactly what is going to happen for the foreseeable future, so what do I know? By the way… with all that wisdom and foresight you have… will the Celtics win the championship??
6. Rightlane | April 24th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Joe, the right, including myself, isn’t particularly thrilled with McCain anyway. My point, which I think you missed, is that the far right base you’ve talk about is in the minority now. The fact that McCain is the GOP nominee is evidence enough of that no matter how much we on the far right, myself included, wish we weren’t.
Most, if not all, on the right would agree that “Her policies (will) wreck this great nation.” By the way, anyone who has ever run against the Clintons or work for them knows they play hard ball. Ask Vince Foster, Ed Willey, Mary Mahoney…. Oh, but you can’t, because they all committed suicide now didn’t they. If the Clintons have any leverage at all on a super delegate they won’t hesitate to use it to their advantage. So, yes Joe, they will twist arms right off if it serves their agenda.
The far right has no choice but to support McCain or stay home. This battle will be fought in the middle. Lieberman’s the most conservative Democrat turned Independent I know and McCain the most liberal Republican I can think of. I’m not crazy about his stance on abortion, but, many in the “base” were willing to support Rudy and Joe can talk to and work with folks on both sides of isle and we need that in a big way these days. Since, Obama and Hillary claim to be uniters I think the comparison between that empty unfounded claim would be well contrasted by a McCain/Lieberman ticket without a word being said.
Finally, you don’t have to live for the next eight years Joe. You have my permission to step off any time you want to.