Buzzflash: Hillary's Monstrously Blind Demolition

[AtomicKitten]

Hillary Clinton's Monstrously Blind Demolition
THE FIFTH COLUMNIST by P.M. Carpenter
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/carpenter/002

Unless Hillary Clinton has secretly contrived some sort of doomsday deliverance of not merely breathtaking but literally unimaginable genius, then today's primaries and beyond are not an exercise in democracy, but demolition. Her party's structural stress is showing, and nearing the breaking point. Laughing in the face of deadly mathematical odds may lend Hillary the appearance of that old Clintonian determination, but it amuses and benefits only the opposition and journalists who love horse races. But Hillary's party is no longer laughing. And it most definitely is not amused.

* snip *

With no personal financial interest in extending the agony, however, was Hillary the next day, which would be yesterday. Speaking in Houston, she let loose a few words that surely horrified the true party faithful: "I think we’re going to do well tomorrow," she said. Well, that wasn't so bad. Whew. But then it came, the denial, the fantasy, the laughing against deadly mathematical odds: "Then it’s on to Pennsylvania and the states still ahead. I’m just getting warmed up." One could almost hear Democratic hearts thudding on floors all across the land. She's kidding, right? Tell us she's kidding. Please.

* snip *

Hardcore Republicans are now her biggest supporters, her most devoted boosters. Echoing the likes of predatory opportunists such as Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan, Karl Rove also spoke Sunday on Fox for the right-wing "You-go-girl" crowd: "I think it's a mistake for campaign to be calling for her to drop out," he said, with laughably feigned indifference. "It’s up to the delegates at the convention to decide who wins and loses." Them, and snickering GOP strategists, I guess.

Naturally the GOP understands as well as objective Democratic strategists that Hillary's odds of success now stand at near absolute zero. Numbers are numbers, and they're furiously stubborn. You can move them around, shift them sideways and yank them up and down, but they'll still total what they total. God didn't play dice with universal mathematics, and He hasn't exempted Hillary's crunchers.

She's lost. And today is but a manic exercise in party demolition. Mrs. Clinton may indeed still score some victories, but if so they'll remain far short of the needed "extraordinary percentages" to shift the balance of overwhelming power and momentum that is Obama's. It was over yesterday, is over this morning, and will be just as over on the morning of March 5.

All Mrs. Clinton can accomplish now is the brutal strafing of party resources and desperately needed unity. That, and the provisioning of John McCain with the best of both worlds: providing him the resources he otherwise lacks to effectively diminish in the electorate's mind the Democratic Party's all-but-officially nominated nominee. Some might say, Well, that's a Democrat for you, always self-serving. But in this case, there's no longer any self or cause to realistically serve. It's just monstrously blind demolition. True, the theatre of it all may be enjoyable, but its ultimate consequence might not be.

[NightWatcher]

1. I'm afraid she's really burning some bridges today

I wonder if this will affect her next run for Senate and what kind of support she gets from other dems in the Senate

[KittyWampus]

11. she's only had half-assed opposition. Maybe we'll find a better Democratic next time.

[TheWraith]

17. I hope so. I no longer want her as my senator.

It dismays me that I'm represented by someone whose first loyalty is to themselves and their ego rather than to advancing Democratic values.

[KittyWampus]

18. fellow Democrat from NY and I agree. Was perfectly happy to see her lose TX & win OH

so she could save face.

After last week, I want her gone.

[blocker]

2. It's clear shes demolishing and divising the party

All this for her own twisted power obsession.

[AtomicKitten]

19. She may be taking herself down with her negative bullshit and

that would be the most righteous retribution evah - self-imposed!!

[jenmito]

3. K&R. Someone on tv said this morning that the only 2 people who want Hillary to win are her and

McCain. (And the entire RNC). :hi:

[AtomicKitten]

6. *

[blocker]

8. No way the super delegates will accept that

If she keeps insulting the possible democrat nominee like she did on her Mccain comments, the superdelegates won't support that crap, by the way , how can she endorse Obama after reducing him to the lowest of political level, saying all he has is a speech he gave in 2002, it's really an insult and it should be addressed by the intelligent democrats! Unless you want the republicans to win.

[Window]

4. Ouch!

:applause:

[movonne]

5. I have a feeling that if she don't win she will do everything in her power

to see a mccain victory...if she does not get the vote today then she as a good dem would bow out and endorse Obama...otherwise it will be a constant attack on Obama..

[Mme. Defarge]

12. It's all about

2012

[Rocky2007]

25. NO -- it's all about 2008

she won't have a 2012 after this is all wrapped up

[Canuckistanian]

34. You're probably right

Losing candidates in hard-fought battles don't usually return.

And I think Hillary is engaging in a "scorched earth" policy if she doesn't win this one.

It's 2008 or die (politically).

[Kittycat]

7. Hard hitting, but true.

And only amplified by her "If I don't win, no one wins" comment in support of McCain.

[paulk]

9. I don't understand these constant obituaries

This race isn't over, and no matter what happens between now and Denver, neither candidate is going to have enough delegates to win outright, unless all the super delegates shift their way.

Hillary has every right to pursue this nomination, both for herself and the millions of people support her.

[jenmito]

10. She's doing damage to Obama-the eventual nominee. She's giving McCain praise as well as

talking points to use against Obama. If she wasn't causing harm, it wouldn't matter. But she's smearing Obama to the benefit of McCain.

[HooptieWagon]

13. true

and he she kept her mouth shut, she's welcome to run from now to kingdom come. But slinging mud at the viable candidate this late in the game out of sheer bitterness and spite only furthers her well established reputation of being in it for herself - not party or country.

[cali]

14. What didn't you understand about the article?

That party insiders don't want an acrimonious fight for months that ends up in a brokered convention with a mortally wounded nominee? That, barring a political miracle, she can't make up a pledged delegate gap of 153? She may have every right to keep running but the odds of her getting the nomination are slim to none. And that raises the question of why she's doing this. If she wins big tonight that's one thing and it justifies her continuing. If not, her continued presence in the race spells defeat in November.

[HooptieWagon]

16. Are you familiar with the concept of "math"?

Barack can clinch the nomination with a 50-50 split of the remaining pledged delegates and less than 50% of the remaining superdelegates. He can easily be a first vote nominee. Hillary has to win every remaining state by 65-35 margins (which she didn't even get in ARK, although she came close), AND take 3/4 of the uncommitted SDs. Thats so unlikely it's ludicrous. She is resorting to hail-mary tactics of mud-slinging and lawsuits. THAT is dividing the party, and greatly helping the GOP. Yet, she and her supporters don't seem to have a problem with it... I wonder why?

[americanstranger]

15. I'm waiting for the first snipe at Buzzflash.

You know it'll be here any second now.

- as

[Scurrilous]

20. K & R

:thumbsup:

[nomorewhopper]

21. kicking

i agree 100% with this article and hope to god that hillary does not make a run to the convention.

her legacy, and bill's, will forever be tarnished.

[AtomicKitten]

24. I would be very surprised if she did the right thing.

I wouldn't fit in her with general theme of trash & burn.

[NashVegas]

22. Bad Girl Bad Girl Bad Girl Needs to Go to the Corner and Sit Down

All Mrs. Clinton can accomplish now is the brutal strafing of party resources and desperately needed unity.

Those who keeping claiming this are completely lost to the sad irony: they're the ones who are ripping the party apart, with their blatant, unmitigated sexism.

None of us old farts can remember a time when a candidate with so much a percentage of the vote was demanded to step down.

I'm losing all the respect I once had for Buzzflash.

[AtomicKitten]

23. ah, but it is the delegate count that counts and it is virtually impossible for her to win

The irony of her losing by her own hubris is delicious. In what has to be the epitome of ignorant arrogance, she didn't plan past SuperTuesday, 2-5-08 - and her demise is entirely self-inflicted.

You are applauding her attempts to bloody up her opponent gratuitously, her opponent who will undoubtedly be the Democratic nominee in the GE. You may want to spend a few moments contemplating the implications of that ... or not. No worries though because we never had the expectation that her minions would actually get it and think beyond her selfishness and narcissism.

[NashVegas]

28. Irrelevant

No other candidate in the last 50 years, at least, has had so much grief for staying in the race, let alone while they were still viable!

[AtomicKitten]

35. the grief is coming at her own hand

she's playing dirty and she can't win, that's a lose-lose

I don't care about her future viability because she doesn't deserve my concern, but I do care about the viability of the party.

[Usrename]

39. How is she viable?

What is the strategy for a win?

There doesn't appear to be any path to victory for her. How is she still viable?

[AZBlue]

26. OK, what's sexist about Buzz's remarks?

Stop overusing that word, it's annoying and it makes you (pl.) look like you (pl.) don't really know what it means.

[NashVegas]

27. No One With a Clue Would Be This Much Pressure On If It Were Another Guy

Because they know they'd get a big honking "fuck YOU" right back.

[AZBlue]

29. Oh, stop! That's ABSURD!

:rofl:

[tabasco]

30. She has lost a lot of my respect just the last couple days.

Elevating rotten, crooked, McCain over a fellow Dem was inexcusable.

[AtomicKitten]

36. that combined with her IWR and K-L votes should make her dead to all Democrats

[K Gardner]

31. Manic exercise in party demolition.. brutal strafing.. K&R

[midora]

33. Hillary Ruins Democratic Party;Doesn't Give a Shit

About anyone but herself. She's an egomaniac. I feel sorry for the people she represents in the Senate.

[cottonseed]

32. Scarborough on MSNBC primary coverage tonight.

Looks like cable news loves the numbers their getting for this race. Looks like they dragged Scarborough out for the reason noted in the article:

"Hardcore Republicans are now her biggest supporters, her most devoted boosters. Echoing the likes of predatory opportunists such as Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan, Karl Rove also spoke Sunday on Fox for the right-wing "You-go-girl" crowd: "I think it's a mistake for campaign to be calling for her to drop out," he said, with laughably feigned indifference. "It’s up to the delegates at the convention to decide who wins and loses." Them, and snickering GOP strategists, I guess."

[AtomicKitten]

37. well, I'm glad to have it out in the open so there's no misunderstanding

For a while now the HRC camp - and that extends here - have tried to say Obama is the one the wingnuts want. I always knew that was bullshit because the polls consistently showing him beating the snot out of McCain, Hillary running crap against him.

The wingnuts fear Obama because they don't know how to run against him, and they are more than pleased to allow Hillary some more time to bang on him and bloody him up for the general election. This twisted Machiavellian exercise in futility on her part is breathtaking because of its magnitude.

[Beausoir]

38. More ObamaDrama. Just what we need.

[Usrename]

40. How can Hillary win the nomination?

How can she get the requisite number of delegates?