As all Readers know by now, it is Harrogate’s firm belief that both Obama and Clinton, in the event that they go all the way to Denver lacking the magic 2025, have very credible cases to make to the Superdelegates to give them the necessary tally to put them over the top.
And, it is no secret that Harrogate is more sympathetic to Clinton’s case. But there is no point in rehashing any of this.
But now is time for remembering the big picture, ending GOP rule. No organized political Party in the World has been responsible for more Death and Destruction than the American Republican Party over the last 8 years, and none promises to do more damage than the same, should their Rule continue. And even worse than the foreign policy of Chest Thumping Death-Dealing, is the economic and judicial "philosophies" that the GOP has brought to bear on this Nation.
And so. It is out of deference to the Surreal IntraParty Dynamic, that Harrogate hereby and forevermore officially switches his support from Clinton to Obama in this Primary. Since the Ohio and Texas primaries, the Rhetorics freighting television and throughout the Internet, including those on this site, have convinced Harrogate that should Clinton wind up with this nomination, the Media will continue to Assault her, and worse, more than half of the Obama people will abstain from the election on principle. Certainly the African American community will be Afflicted with feelings of having been subjected to racism by the Superdelegates, feelings that Obama himself would not have it in his Power to Allay, even if he were interested in so doing. And then there are the Andrew Sullivan, Daily Kos, Huff-Po elements, and all the rest, which pretty plainly speak for themselves. These all share the view that Clinton is Monstrous for continuing to stand in the way of Hope and Destiny and Change.
The writing on the Wall. The cold truth. The bulk of the Obama camp was spoken for very succinctly, by Dr. Power. Witness M.O.W.’s brief and thoroughly kissed-up-to visit to The Rhetorical Situation, the language that blogger used to describe Clinton, the appreciation with which Others received such language, all of this is quite normal in conventional discourse about this Primary. This is what we are looking at. To argue that it is unfair, ridiculous, patently deceitful, is a waste of time, the degree of truthfulness to the argument being as irrelevant as a Hedge Fund to a homeless man. What matters is, this Narrative has traction with enough people.
It would kill the Dems for Clinton to carry the banner. Yes Power was off the record, but she said what she felt, and it doesn’t take much time watching television or websurfing, to see that she speaks for a huge, huge element of potential Democratic voters. Rather than being mad at Power, Obama and Clinton ought both to thank her. Yea, Harrogate thanks Dr. Power, and wishes her well in all her future endeavors.
And so, Senator Clinton, Harrogate throws himself on the Mercy of your better Nature, and asks you to drop out of this race. Please understand that you cannot catch him numerically by way of delegates. And that the popular vote in this race never mattered, will not matter in the discourse, unless Obama winds up winning it. However you feel about the way the math works, it is all about math and strategy, and you were not so adept at gaming the numbers as your opponent. To wit. There is simply no way you can emerge the Winner, however compelling you feel your case to be, without triggering a revolt within the Party and handing over the election to the GOP. Which is the worst case scenario, and you are right now very uniquely positioned to give us a shot at preventing it. If you drop out now it would be the most Beneficial Act to the Nation that a politician has made, in Harrogate's lifetime.
Do the right thing, Hill. Leave the race.
16 comments:
I'm somewhere between disgusted with and disturbed by Obama's supporters. It's going to take a lot for me to vote for him. Not that I'd vote for McCain but I may have to abstain.
Harrogate sympathizes, but begs you not to abstain.
Still, it's a matter of math. Far, far less Hill supporters would abstain from an Obama ticket, when it comes down to it, than would the Obama supporters if the alternate scenario occurs.
There's no way around this, no disputing it.
Surely Hill sees this.
Sir harrogate, you have made many compelling points that surmises much has what has been stated this week--for Dems to win they cannot run the "Monster" formally known as "I hate that bitch". What I find most disturbing about this is all, is that Obamanators claim that all the Clintonistas must do the best for the party and support him after Sen. Clinton has become just another tumbleweed on the political frontier, but if by chance, the miracle of miracle comebacks occurred there seems to be an increasing number that would abandon their beloved party even if it means giving to the GOP.
Paperweight Writer,
At this point in the election, because of the closeness of the primary, the perceived lack of policy differences between the two, and, consequently, the complete focus on character and personality, supporters from both sides will not support the other candidate. Yesterday, one of the reports on MSNBC focused on the number of Clinton supporters-- the "blue collar democrats" that would support Senator McCain over Senator Obama for reasons, unfortunately, not given.
And, certainly, there will be a number of Obama supporters that would not support Senator Clinton. This of course occurs in every election because of the ideological differences found within the "Democratic" party.
The same of course will occur during the Republican party as some of the "economic conservatives" and "social conservatives" will sit out the election because of McCain's stances on big business, campaign finance, and independent nature.
Harrogate,
The most anyone can ask of you is to vote and follow your political convictions and your liberty of conscience. As I have said before, if you do not support a candidate, then voting for him/her may lead to far worse problems. But, remember, I say this from a non-party perspective since I do not base my voting on party but on other factors.
Right. The two camps are equally polar.
That is why you hear so much talk from Clintonistas of a Denver walkout if Obama gets the Supers.
That is why the one Progressive Site that supports Clinton, TalkLeft, routinely attacks Obama personally. (just in case, this is sarcasm).
You are simply being dishonest in how you are representing the current primary dynamic.
Why?
As for voting conscience. There never has been, nor ever will be, a perfect candidate. They are all deeply flawed and deeply compromised, or they wouldn;t be at this level.
Gasp that includes Obama.
The GOP is Lethal and the Dems, while flawed and a bit cowardly, have their hearts and minds in the right place, especially by comparison.
Well then grand masters what can be done???? Are we truly to rest our hopes on the return of the GORE or to hope that Sen Clinton will follow the mighty Harrogate's request to drop to hit the door??? Have we reached the stage where there is nothing more that we can do other than watch the return of the GOP???
This news saddens me dearly and I must now go drink a beer, a beer that is soon to be my last as my budget has been Bushwhacked!!!
Harrogate,
Please reread my comment, which states that, as of right now, a certain segment of the Clinton supporters will vote for McCain in the GE or abstain, as the first commentator noted.
In your comment scenario about my "dishonesty", it requires the assumption that there are major problems in how one candidate attempts to achieve the nomination. If the facts were different and the nominee could win the nomination outright or be in the lead with the pledge delegates and the popular vote, then the Obama supporters would not "walk out." However, remember the walk out talk began with the seating of Florida and Michigan as it, without a revote or any sort of plan.
So please, refrain from your "dishonest" comments or "intellectual dishonesty" comments if you yourself fail to notice the difference in assumptions behind the positions. Or, if you prefer to keep them, that will be fine too.
But, Neither nominee can win the nomination outright. Because of proportional representation, it will have to be Supers to put someone over the top.
Again. It will be the Superdelegates that will put One over the top. We all know this.
And so.
We also know, that whether or not Hill wins the popular vote. Whether or not there is a revote in Florida or Michigan. Whether or not any other "facts are different."
Two Facts That Will Not Be Different, Endures:
1)The Brazille Contingent Will Walk Out If Obama Is Noth Handed the Nomination By The Supers.
2)Scores of African Americans throughout the Land will cry racism if Obama is not given the nomination by the Supers, regardless of how the popular vote or how the Michigan/Florida Stuff is Resolved.
And they, and those who believe they have a legitimate complaint, WILL SIMPLY NOT VOTE FOR HILL.
These are facts.
Maybe all of this conflict within the democratic party (real or perceieved) will pave the way for Nader.
Harrogate,
You are correct that neither candidate will win without help from the Super Delegates, but what matters is the count before the convention. In fact, with only 350 remaining Super Delegates, there may be scenarios in which Senator Clinton cannot win the nomination with her pledge delegates and the 350 uncommitted Super Ds. Of course, it is not possible to know this until the end of the primaries. According to CNN's count, Obama needs 500 and Clinton needs 600. According to MSNBC, Obama needs 659 while Clinton needs 798. If Obama is much closer than Clinton, less than 100 delegates, that may be hard to ignore.
Other considerations:
If the Obama campaign has a 100 - 150 delegate lead and the popular vote, then that becomes a strong argument.
If Senator Obama has a 50 - 100 lead and the popular vote, that is a strong argument.
If Senator Obama has a less than a 50 delegate lead and does not have the popular vote, then his case seems mixed. Though, if he still help on the the popular vote, his case would be better.
It is hard to argue against the lead in delegate count, unless you choose to differentiate in why some democrats matter more than other. Ohter considerations about growing the party (coattail effect and new voters) and who can beat McCain may play a part but these are hypothetical and make for bad decisions.
As for Brazil, that may be more about Super Delegate positioning than anything else, just as Clinton's Dream Ticket.
As far as your racism comment, you need much more evidence to suggest this, especially after the nature of this primary. Maybe the AA community is actually trying to demand for something on the basis of its support for years. Maybe, like DB, the community is trying to persuade the SDs. The Clinton campaign hurt their standing in the AA community with the race it ran.
Yet, it is not possible to think that an entire community will act a certain way during the GE. This comments seems to be based more on a dislike of Obama supporters and how they will act than how a Democratic constituency will act.
calm now oxymoron--there has to be a better independent than Nader right??
Maybe Jesse "The Body" Ventura can be coaxed to run independently. Now, there's a candidate even Harrogate can love.
Solon, you write:
"Maybe the AA community is actually trying to demand for something on the basis of its support for years."
Clearly that is the Warrant. And it is an understandable one. Although, it is interesting that they are willing to enable more GOP economics, in order to follow through on their demands.
You also write:
"Maybe, like DB, the community is trying to persuade the SDs."
Harrogate does not believe this. he thinks the bruised thoughts and feelings would be palpable, stemming mostly from the first quote. It is not an effort to persuade, it is an ultimatum. Understandable, but an ultimatum.
Finally, you write:
"Yet, it is not possible to think that an entire community will act a certain way during the GE."
Harrogate didn't say an entire community would do anything, He said scores of African Americans would cry racism and that this would significantly cripple Democratic chances. And not only is it possible to predict this. It is not possible to predict anything other than this.
Finally,
"This comments seems to be based more on a dislike of Obama supporters and how they will act than how a Democratic constituency will act."
Certainly Harrogate has a strong dislike of how the Obama supporters, at least the ones getting television time and dominating the Left Blogosphere, have conducted themselevs during this campaign. The dislike emanates form their view of the Democratic Party as a mere tool whose Only usefulness inheres in the extent to which it furthers their guy. Please understand, if you will, that there wasn't an intrinsic dislike predating the actions--it followed from the actions.
But, it isn't necessary to like the supporters of the candidate you are voting for. Witness the Phish connection.
Obama is a decent guy whose Presidency would return a desperately needed modicum of sanity to the White House. He is, in short, more Democrat than Republican.
To paraphrase Mercutio, it is not so wide as a church door, nor so deep as a well. But, tis enough. Twill do.
Does anyone else find it interesting that Southpaw, Oxymoron, and Paperweight all manage to find a little levity in the situation but not Harrogate and Solon? Perhaps they are the ones who need to go have a beer. . .
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