The Wonder Of It All

The last 24 hours in this, the weirdest of Presidential campaign years, have been utterly fascinating. Is it just me, or did anyone else marvel at the fact that the presumptive winner spent the last day more or less hiding out in Chicago, while the presumably out of it was visible, confident and giving speeches ahead of a primary she's likely to win by about 25 percent?

It's not that my overall opinion has changed (or, I went out on that limb and I'm staying there, no matter how the wind blows) - but I did say in that post that several things needed to occur, and quickly. Two of them clearly did not: Mr. Obama has not moved, decisively to take the mantle that's his, and "super" delegates did not move, in large numbers, to affirm the result.

The latter is, perhaps, most fascinating of all, and it's been a facet of the entire season - while the Obama campaign has continuously rattled the cage of "we have a hidden cache of superdelegates" they've never really materialized. Instead, while yesterday's news focused on the shift of George McGovern and a delegate from Virginia (who, it could be pointed out, was simply reflecting the Virginia results, finally), I thought the curious development was Heath Shuler, and others backing Clinton in North Carolina, who said their support of Clinton was unchanged. Not to mention James Clyburn, who said now was not the time for Hillary Clinton to concede.

Well, if not now, when? I agree that letting all 50 states have the opportunity to vote is a paramount concern... it's just not one I got the impression the Obama folks were so keen on. While many said it would be "embarrassing" for Clinton to drop out and then promptly win West Virginia and Kentucky.. that will happen either way, so isn't it still embarrassing? Why didn't Obama immediately make himself present in West Virginia, say "It's great that we're going on with this, but now is the time to come together."?

What, exactly, is he waiting for? An invitation?

Or is it, as I'm beginning to suspect, that despite insisting to superdelegates that now is the time, the Obama folks are discovering that the certainty we're supposed to see... is far less certain than they'd like to admit.

It's not just that I think Mrs. Clinton has been underestimated every step of the way... nor do I buy the kind of "she's utterly ruthless and will say or do anything" nonsense that are supposed to make ambition in a woman look unseemly and rude.  But the Clintons have always shown an ability to be decisive and to act that unsettles a party that tends to believe in the long meeting and the group hug... but no real decision. While pundits say "don't force her to concede" I keep thinking... "what are you people, nuts? If its over, then step in. Who do you think is going to do it for you?"

In this weirdest of years the wonder of the past day is that with a perfect opportunity to end it, like some sort of bad boyfriend, Obama can't seize the moment (come on, it's a better metaphor than Tom Schaller's pointlessly sexist "frat boy" analogy about Clinton). If we're done, let's be done.  If we're not done... then okay, we're not done.  But I guess that would mean Hillary Clinton still has a shot... if we just try.

Comments

[Redstar]

Fox-woods!!

[Redstar]

Apparently the Obama campaign has been busy preparing its buy-out offer of Clinton. This goes along with Corrente's comparison of the Obama campaign as a corporate takeover.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/5/8/13178/26244