HALPERIN’S TAKE: Painful Things Hillary Clinton Knows — Or Should Know

Time ^ | March 23, 2008 | Mark Halperin

[cdchik123]

1. She can’t win the nomination without overturning the will of the elected delegates, which will alienate many Democrats.

2. She can’t win the nomination without a bloody convention battle — after which, even if she won, history and many Democrats would cast her as a villain.

3. Catching up in the popular vote is not out of the question — but without re-votes in Florida and Michigan it will be almost as impossible as catching up in elected delegates.

4. Nancy Pelosi and other leading members of Congress don’t think she can win and want her to give up. Same with superdelegate-to-the-stars Donna Brazile.

5. Obama’s skilled, close-knit staff can do things like silently kill re-votes in Florida and Michigan and not pay a political price.

6. Many of her supporters — and even some of her staffers — would be relieved (and even delighted) if she quit the race; none of his supporters or staff feel that way. Some think she just might throw in the towel in June if it appears efforts to fight on would hurt Obama’s general election chances.

7. The Rev. Wright story notwithstanding, the media still wants Obama to be the nominee — and that has an impact every day.

[cgbg]

I remember seeing the films of our POW's who gave in to the Hanoi Commies way back when that war was still on. And McCain was one of them. ABC, CBS and NBC have copies of his films and his radio broadcasts. Even though McCain has managed to get a law passed to censure them there is no doubt that they will make their way to the internet next October.

McCain's Vietnam dirty laundry can be summarized in just three words:

"His father's name."

McCain gave it up to get medical treatment after his crash in North Vietnam. Then he lied about it in his book and on the campaign trail.

Every intelligence service and major media outlet on the planet knows about it. His former KGB interrogators have probably sold the information to the highest bidder--and it has probably been resold more often than a used DVD on Amazon.

When McCain sees it covered by the MSM his famous temper will blow--game, set, and match.

[RayChuang88]

I think what we're seeing is the Arkansas mafia led by the Clintons causing all kinds of trouble for Senator Obama's campaign.

And it could get much scarier: imagine if Senator Clinton's campaign office starts to dig up dirt on one Oprah Winfrey, which could SERIOUSLY undermine the Obama campaign in very short order. That could get extremely ugly and the prospect of a fracas between the powerful US Northeastern Democrats (which support Clinton) and just as powerful Midwest Democrats (which support Obama) that sunders the Democratic Party is not so ridiculously far-fetched.

[jslade]

If she gives in, four years from now Obama will either be running for reelection or he will be the presumptive challenger to McCain’s second term.

There will be NO McInsane second term. That's why the VP pick is so important.

[fightinJAG]

None of the rationales offered for her continued run make sense—even political sense.

There’s gotto be a fox in the henhouse that no one yet knows about.

It can’t be as simple as the inability to give up on wanting power.

[Nervous Tick]

>> I’m still returning those RNC envelopes

Us, too. We stuff all the crap they send us along with a “gringo peso” or two and return to sender — in their own prepaid envelope.

It’s pretty funny — Mrs. Tick has told them in nice letters that we’re disappointed with the RNC’s performance and wish to be taken off their mailing list — which only brings a further flood of junk mail!

We gave generously to the RNC from 2002 to 2004. Since the entire republican party has shifted towards representing a different base, they need to send their funding requests to that new base (democrats, liberals, and “moderates”).

[Ditter]

I think if I was in a Viet Cong prison camp with no way of escape and they broke both my arms and fed me crap (when they decided to feed me) I might, just might do whatever they told me to do. I have to cut McCain some slack on this one. Now the things he did in the senate I am really angry about.

[billhilly]

“There are not enough blacks in the South to overcome the unwillingness of some conservative Democrats to (1) vote for a black man and (2) vote for someone who listened to such a racist, hate-filled minister for 20 years.”

Al Gore got 90% of the black vote and that made him president. Right?

Democrats cannot win elections at any level without a solidified black vote. If republicans could just split the black vote that would be the end of the democratic party.

[laconic]

Hillary is up 26 points over Obama in PA this morning; if you translate that into percentages, its 63-37, which is awfully close to 2-1. If this holds, and 2 million Penns vote, she beats Obama by 520,000 votes, leaving only 180,000 to be made up in the remaining primary states (Kentucky, Indiana and a few others where she is favored to win) and she could take the Dem popular vote.

[kabar]

You left out NC where Obama is ahead. The Clintons have set up the phony standard of the popular vote, but that is not the way pledged delegates are chosen. Obama won Texas in terms of delegates, yet the MSM and the Clintons portray it as a victory for Hillary.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“You know, why do I get this feeling that McCain is going to pick a “nob nibbler” like Charlie Crist or someone else completely unacceptable? He’s done everything else he can to prove he’s a rat.”

I know where you are coming from. I get that same feeling. I am hoping he picks Haley Barbour.

[Crawdad]

I'm still returning those RNC envelopes with "NO MCCAIN", "I'M A CONSERVATIVE, NOT A REPUBLICAN" or worse written in big black letters.

When I got the envelope from the RNC that looked like it was from the IRS, I decided the RNC had seen the last dime from me.

[uncbob]

After sitting through all those black church services

After two trips to Africa

After setting up an office in Harlem

After crying as a teenager as black churches burned

After walking through Harlem as a college student

After proclaiming himself as the first black president

After visions of being back on AF1

It has to be driving Bubba and Bubbess nuts to think they are losing to Obama because of the black vote

Talk about ungrateful Judases

[expatpat]

You are correct re Evan Thomas, but it pre-dates 2004. It was 2000, I think.

[uncbob]

If they think their candidate of the day will not win, they will throw that candidate under the bus and go with plan B. Operation chaos has derailed their presidential party strategy.

democrats absolutely are toast without their 90% black vote and that includes many senate races --this race has to be driving them goofy

[laconic]

Obama is ahead in NC, but now its only by one percentage point. If Hillary wins NC, I still think she’s got a very good chance, if she couples that with a sweep of PA (very likely), Indiana (don’t know) and Kentucky (almost certain).

[Republic Rocker]

The Dims knew America hated Hillary, so they jumped ship over to Obama, then the media was forced to expose their charade game and now the Dims want to jump back to Hillary.... its too late the party is a mess and America now can see it.

[Ann Archy]

I would rather think Bill’s price will be high if they force her out. He wants to re-write his legacy so bad he will do anything including the politics of political party destruction to get back into the white house.

Bill's positive numbers are FALLING FAST!! YEAH!! The Blacks are wising up!!

[Ann Archy]

What the HELL is that picture?????? Is that PHOTO-SHOPPED??? What a bunch of HILLBILLIES!!! Look at the table....PIGS!

[Ann Archy]

There will be NO McInsane second term. That's why the VP pick is so important.

AMEN!!! I CAN'T wait TO SEE WHO HE PICKS.

[vietvet67]

Old photo from their Arkansas days I believe..