I am reading Sully this morning, and it is kind of amusing trying to watch him grapple with the Obama loss/Clinton win:
Part of me is crushed. But part of me is happy to see two candidates forced to battle it out in a long slog. We find out more that way. They grow more. More people get a say. That’s a good thing. And I should say that although I remain a passionate Obama supporter among the Democrats, I also feel little compunction in recognizing that Clinton did have something of a personal breakthrough in the last few days. The brittle exterior cracked. What was beneath is more human and less calculated. She was forced to explain from the heart why she really wants to win. People responded. As they would.
Yes, women did have a part in the Clinton victory. But it wasn’t just women. It wasn’t just her “tears” like that bitch MoDo is suggesting. And, I am sure there was a backlash- hell, I was talking to another blogger last night about how I could not believe the way Democrats were turning on the Clintons. I could not believe the way the media and allegedly liberal folks had joined with the GOP to make sure Hillary was not allowed to run a campaign. She responds, she is “defensive.” She raises legitimate questions about Obama, she is “attacking.” She responds to stupid questions, she is “shrill” and “angry.”
Seriously- as a long time former Clinton hater myself, I was kind of shocked to see it develop like this. I guess there was some element of liking to stick it to the king, and the Clinton’s have been the king (collectively) for a while now, but I just couldn’t believe that so many Democrats would sign on with the media and the NRO crowd to trash Hillary. But they did.
At any rate, I know this is going to ruffle a lot of feathers, but I think the real reason Clinton won was that she was offering something of substance. Obama is offering lofty rhetoric and “hope.” Clinton has plans. While Clinton’s speeches may not make people swoon and make Kennedy comparisons like Obama, but at some point, this will get old. I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I am hungry, I like the steak and potatoes on the plate in front of me rather than the promise of a multiple course meal named “change.”
I still, at this point, do not know what Obama stands for other than “change” or something “new.” I honestly can not believe he has been able to get away with it this long, and I assure you, he will not in a general election. So that is why, in my opinion, Hillary won. She stands for something- something people can understand and grapple with. Not some lofty rhetoric about change that moistens loins at the American Prospect, but actual policy positions.
*** Update ***
I see we have angered the Obamarmy, and they are all upset that I am claiming Obama does not have “plans.” I am well aware he has a website before you froth some more, folks. I am well aware there are official policy positions all over the website. What I am saying is that he is not selling himself on those policies or positions. He is selling himself on nebulous nonsense like “change” and crap like that. Pro-tip- all the candidates will be a change from this disastrous Bush administration.
I am not trying to “diss” your man Obama, folks, and if he wins the nomination I will vote for him. I am trying to figure out why people switched to Hillary at the last minute. It seems to me there are several factors:
1.) People were unaware Dodd and Biden had dropped out, and their supporters broke for Clinton.
2.) Women voted for Clinton in larger numbers, no doubt in response to the bullshit Clinton has been put through.
3.) Undecided voters were swayed by Clinton in the closing days, perhaps experiencing the noticeable difference between Obama’s stump “hope/change” nonsense and Clinton’s policy discussions.
4.) The young did not vote in the same numbers as they did in Iowa.
5.) Independents saw Obama win in Iowa, and chose to vote Republican and broke for McCain rather than voting Democrat and supporting.
I like Obama just fine, but if you think he is gonna make it through a general election doing nothing but “elevating” you with crap about “change” and “hope,” you are fooling yourself. The party of Atwater and Rove and purple heart band-aids will eat his shit up and spit it out.
And one last thing, I am not going to put up with a bunch of crap from Obama supporters who have never been here before, have never commented, and just assume I am some wild Clinton supporter. I will leave your comments up, but then I will direct you to this site.
*** Update #2 ***
And if any of Hillary’s people pulled this little stunt, you would be rightly freaking the fuck out (I know I voiced my displeasure with that sleaze-bag Mark Penn). But you all are mid-coronation of Obama, so let’s just pretend their campaign is all about hope and nothing negative. Idiots.