STICK A FORK IN HILLARY......SHE'S DONE! by Jeff Morris
Published Tuesday, 02/26/08 @ 6:45 am. Linked to Kingston Democracy for America.


I admit that I'm borrowing a line from someone else here. I'm using it because I think it describes the situation in Team Clinton's camp perfectly. It now comes down to MARCH "4th AND LONG" for Sen Clinton. It's definitely "Hail Mary" time. After being up in the polls by 20+ points for many months, Team Clinton has to wonder "what happened?"

At the debate in Austin, Sen. Clinton said she was honored to share the stage with Sen Obama. There was a truce, a reconciliation. For a moment there I thought they were going to kiss! Then for the next three days, she rips into him for what she said was a dirty campaign of misinformation regarding her health care plan. She's looking more like Sen. "Cybil" Clinton the past few days. Knowing that she's trailing, Hillary is desperate now. She doesn't want the debate tonight in Cleveland to be the last. The possibility of Obama slipping up badly in a debate could be her best bet on getting back in the race at this point. Hillary is trying hard to get Barack to agree to further debates.

The Clinton campaign has got to be one of the worst run Presidential campaigns in recent memory. Her campaign staff never seemed to have acknowledged that Hillary has an image problem (cold, impersonal, witchy?... Every time she goes on the attack against Obama she loses ground in the polls and only reinforces that image. She pulled off the upset in New Hampshire by letting her guard down and showing her warmer, more personal human side. Why her campaign staff didn't learn something from this and abandon the personal attacks, is beyond me.
Team Clinton also seemed to have no post Feb. 5th Super Tuesday strategy. You simply can't let your opponent win 11 straight Caucus's or Primaries without getting your campaign in serious trouble. Where was the strategy for derailing Obama before he ran up this winning streak? There are now rumors circulating in Washington that "Oscar The Death Cat" has officially begun his Clinton vigil! It appears to be only a matter of time now. Sen. Obama has built a momentum that is almost unstoppable now after 11 straight wins

To stay alive here Sen. Clinton needs to win not only in both Texas and Ohio on March 4th, but may also need to win in Pennsylvania too. I don't think anything short of this "Hat Trick" will keep her struggling campaign going. On the bright side for Democratic voters is the fact that the more states Obama wins now, the less likely that the Dem. Super Delegates are going to play a major role in the outcome. Hoooooooray for this! This could have caused a rift and division in the Democratic party heading into the Nov. 08 general election.

If Sen. Clinton can somehow find a way to win in Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, then the Super Delegates may indeed be the final "Deciders" for the Dem. nomination. I sure hope it doesn't come down to this though. Any way you slice it, Clinton or Obama will be the better choice for President by light years over 72 year old Sen John McBu$h. Sen McCain not only supports the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, but also supports the troop surge and believes the U.S. being in Iraq for the next 50+ years is just fine. A vote for McCain = 4 more years of failed Bush domestic and foreign policy, and endless war.

It's interesting to hear the Democratic candidates talk of their Health Care plans for the 57 million uninsured Americans. They also speak of reducing the incredible deficit Bush has run up, making college tuition more affordable, transparency in Government, ethics reform..... On the Republican side these things aren't even being mentioned! It gives you a good idea of the different priorities of the two parties. The Republicans continue to support this disastrous Iraq occupation which continues to add 12 billion dollars every month to the already record deficit.

Rather than talk about health care, making college tuition more affordable, reducing the deficit..... the Republicans still support big oil companies and fossil fuel energy over renewable, Green, safer and cleaner alternative energy policies. Concerns about wedge issues like gay marriage, or the all important "burning issue" of flag burning are still a priority over the serious problems created by the Bush administration over the past 7 years. I hope American voters are paying close attention here. The difference between the principles of the Republican party vs the principles of the Democratic party, have never been clearer, or more opposite.

Jeff Morris-Saugerties, N.Y.- DeJaVu57


Tags: Pennsylvania, Democratic Convention, Texas Dem Primary, Ohio Dem Primary