Hillary Bows Out

Random thoughts on the nomination process which has just ended:

1. Congratulations to Barack Obama. He earned the nomination by working hard, playing by the rules and not letting racism become an obstacle to securing the nomination.
2. Congratulations to Hillary Clinton for an impressive race, not quitting and pushing Obama to the very end.
3. Clinton blew it. The nomination was there for the taking and she simply blew it. She can blame sexism, her staff, the media, whomever she wants to blame but as the head of ticket she needs to take responsibility for this loss. She disrespected the other candidates and expected everyone to genuflect on the carpet of here inevitable coronation as Democratic nominee.
4. We have discovered the Clinton machine is not as powerful as we all thought. I always considered the Clintons to be con artists and felt the extended primary season worked against Hillary. The essence of a con is timing. The more time needed to pull off the scam the more likely the scam won’t work. Hillary tried to have everyone believe she accomplished so much during her years in the White House. During the Clinton presidency Democrats lost the Congress in record fashion, were beset by controversy, resulted in an impeachment and ended in pardons to some very shady characters. The balanced budget and welfare reform initiatives emerged from the Republican-controlled Congress. Clinton cooped those issues to become his own when he realized those ships could not be stopped. The strong economy and relative peace during the Clinton administration was due to the balance between the Republican Congress and the Democratic White House. To Bill’s credit, the achievements happened under HIS watch not their (Bill and Hillary’s) watch.
5. It upsets me that the Clinton campaign and the media appeared to believe that Obama needs to apologize to her campaign and supporters. For what? They each ran a hard campaign and she lost. She is not expected to end her campaign but suspend it, what’s up with that?
6. The nomination was not stolen from Clinton, she lost fair and square.
7. Clinton damaged her reputation within the African-American community by trying to change the rules in the middle of the contest. From the very beginning Clinton knew Florida and Michigan were going to be sanctioned. When the Rules Committee made its decision only a Florida Obama supporter objected. Yet when Clinton realized she was losing and needed those votes she cried for a change in the rules to suit her purpose.
8. Clinton can’t have it both ways. Now she is trying to muscle her way into the VP slot or the position of her choice. She deserves consideration but Obama is better off letting her return to the Senate where she can build a credible record of achievement on her own and not one centered on her husband.