A Call to Rationality and unity or "How we ALL should be concerned about the Nightmare in Denver"

[Perky]

First of all let me be clear. I want Obama to win the nomination because I believe he will have longer coattails and a sizable landslide. And that is important consideration to getting out of Iraq and advancing the concerns of most americans.

Yet having said that... You have to give Clinton Credit for the wins last night even if it did not change the delegate math all that much. She has absolutely earned the right to keep going.


Calls for Obama to drop out at this point are at best mentally impoverished and at worst intellectually lazy. Calls for Hillary to drop out because it is nearly impossible to win the delegate race is disenfranchising of those who have yet to vote.

Like it or not the primary continues.

The challenge is going to be the temptation for the candidate to start hurling kitchen sinks at each other in the run up to Pennsylvania (which at the end of the day is going to be another delegate math push. Both will move closer to 2025 but the difference will most likely be +/- 5 to ten.

Clinton supporters should be willing to admit that the will not win the pledged delegates.
Obama supporters must reckon themselves to the possibility that they may not win the national popular vote.

With regards to Florida, if the current situation stands and neither the delegates or the PV does not count, Obama wins the Pledged Delegates and the national PV. It may well be that If they are counted, Hillary may win the national PV but the delegate split while it closes the gap is not a game changer.

Even in a fully contested do-over in Florida Hillary probably win the PV and the delegates count but it is entirely possible that she is better off letting the existing result stand because she could lose the national PV as a result. She might be better off fighting the battle to have them seated. The proposition of a Florida do-over would be a gut check for everyone. Not to mention very expensive and potentially divisive, and probably of marginal value to changing who is in the lead.

WHo knows what the Hell you do with Michigan?



The nightmare: The Super Delegates are currently positioned and will remain positioned to decide the nominee. If Hillary leads in Popular votes but Obama leads in Pledged Delegates... there are sound arguments both ways.


I applaud Hillary's gesture towards a unity ticket. And I appreciate the subtle meaning of how this could shake out.

But here is the point

By suggesting a national unity ticket, there is going to be a need to dial back down the vitriol coming from both directions and the attacks of surrogates because unity requires more than a balloon drop and a bumper sticker.

We need to elevate the rhetoric because whichever side is not the nominee is going to wind up very bitter if the current trajectory continues. That is not a dig at Clinton it is a caution to both candidates and a plea to everyone here on DU.

We need to start thinking about the words we use now and their impact on the convention, the electorate and on the fall campaign. The very last thing we need is to a third Bush term and a repeat of the ugliness we saw on the stage between Kennedy and Carter in 1980.


If we want to get out of Iraq. If we want to solve the health care crisis in this country, we have to win in the fall. I do not think it is wise to presume that the losing candidate would rally their troops to support the nominee if the process embitters and wears them out.


I WANT THIS THREAD TO REMAIN CIVIL NO FLAMES PLEASE.

[Perky]

1. Kicking for slight content change.

[IndianaJones]

2. I do not believe either will win at this point unless both are on the ticket.

Clinton/Obama makes more sense to me simply based on age. Obama is younger.

[Perky]

3. If you want a small electoral victory I think you may be right

If you want a landslide which gives us the mandate to get out of Iraq, I think Obama has alot more upside.

[IndianaJones]

4. I think one without the other has no chance. We shall see. nt.

[Labors of Hercules]

8. So, If primary voters don't get Hillary, they'll vote for

McBush over ANY OTHER DEMOCRAT? that's just plain fucked up. I don't get it. no, I just don't get it.

[IndianaJones]

10. That works the other way too. The majority of Democrats support Clinton.

Will Obama's Repubs and Indies stay home or vote McCain if she gets the nomination?

[Alamom]

6. I agree & Thank you, Perky. nm

[Perky]

14. THANKS ALAMOM

[workinclasszero]

7. Obama is the leader in the popular vote and pledged delegates

and hes gonna take a backseat to Hillary???:rofl:


Not in this lifetime! Not EVER! :hi:

[John Q. Citizen]

5. I can't understand why people believe a unity ticket has anything to do with liking or

disliking either or both candidates. It has zero to do with rancor.

But for fun, lets imagine what the MESSAGE of a unity ticket would be.

Let's start with an Obama/Hillary ticket.

How about "Change we can believe in; But not that much!" Sounds like a winner, doesn't it?



From the point of view of a Hillary/Obama ticket:

"Ready on day one, unless I have a heart attack and then you are on your own!"
Now that's reassuring and sure to win over lots of voters in the general.

Or they could both start right now to run away from their carefully crafted and invested in messages and settle on a new unity ticket theme.

"Vote Obama/Hill (or) Hill/Obama! Both have a (D) behind their name!"

What do you think? What do you think their new unity message should be?

[Perky]

9. here you go

Obama/Clinton "for ALL Americans"

Clinton/Obama "For our Children"

[Alamom]

11. Clinton/Obama "For our Children"....."For all Americans."...."To Insure Our Future"nm

[Perky]

12. works for me.

[Perky]

13. .