Republicans Wanted Hillary -- BAD!

All this talk about unrest and unhappiness and division in the ranks over Hillary not being on the ticket is just that – talk. Sure, there are hurt feelings among the Clinton supporters because their candidate didn’t win the nomination. But Clinton supporters know, in the end, they – and we – must be united in our effort to take back America from the POP party (Political Opportunist Party).

But Republicans are ticked! They wanted to run against Hillary. They have been salivating for years over the prospect of running in 2008 against Hillary. During the primaries, Republican strategists kept saying, “Hillary is tough; she would be the toughest candidate we could face.” Don’t you believe it! They wanted her! The McCain campaign is running an ad right now saying, “She got 18 million votes and isn’t even on the ticket!” In essence, they are saying, “We’re really upset with Obama for not giving us Hillary to bash.”

Here's what Republican strategist will never admit: If she had been on the ticket, the McCain campaign would have ignored Obama and run against Hillary Clinton. They would have re-run all the old stories about the Clintons. They had more negative Hillary material in the can and ready to go than they could possibly use over the course of the next 72 days. Yes, they wanted to run against Hillary --- BAD!

So, ignore the television pundits…and remember they are only repeating what the Republicans tell them about the “simmering division among Democrats.” Yes, some of the Hillary folks continue to be disappointed that their candidate is not carrying the banner for the party, but they know – we all know – as Joe Biden said last Saturday, “We LITERALLY cannot afford another four years of the Bush-Cheney-McCain” form of government. America CANNOT AFFORD it!

As you watch the Convention in Denver this week, no matter what you see or hear, here's one thing you can take to the bank: Democrats WILL be united in November and will be joined by many REAL Republicans and THINKING Independents in rejecting four more years of Bush-Cheney-McCain.

Clinton-Obama Bizarro World

I thought I was in a Jerry Seinfeld Bizarro World episode as I watched first Hillary Clinton's celebration of her successful West Virginia primary win followed the next night by Barack Obama's rally in Grand Rapids, MI when John Edwards endorsed him. In West Virginia, Hillary had about 300 paid staff, rabid volunteers and assorted sychophants gathered round a small stage as she all but announced she would be moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave next January. (Terry MacAuliffe had promoted the speech as "the greatest ever" and afterward Chris Matthews teased him by asking Terry to quote the most "Churchillian" line in it. MacAuliffe ignored that one.)

The next night, Obama, already leading in delegate counts and virtually certain to be the nominee, introduced John Edwards to at least 20,000 people in a packed arena. They were nearly delirious as Edwards stepped to the microphone, talked about tearing down the wall that divides Washington from the rest of America and, indeed, the world. His eloquence far exceeded the poor effort of Hillary the night before.

What a contrast! It was bizarre!

Hillary remains in her own world...well, Bizzaro World. Obama should remain alert. He could be about to enter a parallel universe. After his swearing in next January, it's just possible that President Obama will drive up to the White House only to be greeted by Hillary: "Welcome to the White House, Mr. Obama. I'll be with you in a moment. I'm signing a couple of executive orders right now. Would you like a souvenir pen when I'm finished?"

Is it over? Souvenir shops say so.

While walking through Union Station yesterday, I passed a souvenir shop loaded with all sorts of presidential campaign memorabilia. The Hillary Clinton items already had been marked down 50 percent. The trinket market has spoken. It IS over. But she is within her right to stay in until the bitter end. This IS a great country.

Take the Dog to the Vet

It is, indeed, over for Hillary Rodham Clinton. We are at the stage where it is time to decide who will take the family dog to the vet. It would be prudent for that decision to be made sooner rather than later.