The in-between season of politics

[politicasista]

You could also say the silly season of politics too.

Below is a post written by TayTay a couple of weeks ago about the in-between time happening in politics right now. Thought this deserved its own thread for those that missed it.

It's worth posting again because it sums up what is happening right now in the media and blogsphere. Something (besides that vile thread today) that somewhat makes me disillusioned about politics right now (but I am taking breaks and hanging in there. :))

Hope no one minds this post. :)

It's the interregnum when the winner takes a breather and the Democratic Party begins to reformulate around that winner. People will be jockeying for position and for power and influence in this new configuration of the Democratic Party.

This is going to be, in a way, as difficult as any other period we have been through. There will be a lot of people claiming their share of the credit for Sen. Obama's victory. One tried and true and ugly way to do this is to give out interviews that demean the work of others. It happens. It is an ugly side of politics and it is inevitable.

In the case of Sen. Kerry, it also won't work. The Obama campaign stone-cold knows what a great supporter John Kerry has been. He has done what the Obama folks asked him to do, period. He did so without making himself the star attraction. Every Obama appearance Sen. Kerry made was just that, an appearance to promote Barack Obama, not John Kerry. There are people who will try to demean and insult Sen. Kerry in the weeks to come and downplay his role in the Obama campaign. It won't work. Period. The Obama people know who their die-hard friends were, who supported them through thick and thin and who showed up when asked, no matter what the task was.

I know we all needed thick skin to get through some of the tirades of the past few years. We need it again for a little while yet. This period of reforming the Democratic Party structure is going to be messy. But I assure you, the Obama people are well aware of what Sen. Kerry has done for them. Nothing, no leaks to friendly reporters by those just jumping on the bandwagon or jealous people or those with scores to settle, will change this. Take that to the bank and be happy....

People are going to talk trash in this in-between period. Brace yourself for it. But I want everyone to *KNOW* that the Obama camp understands just how good a surrogate Sen. Kerry was for them. That is indisputable, no matter what kind of jockeying for position takes place.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=148531&mesg_id=148541

[beachmom]

1. I think we got our assurance of the Obama campaign knowing what Kerry did

when they referred to them having a "close friendship". I'm not worried. There are some Obama supporters I highly respect, who are super smart and full of insight. Some were Dean supporters, and are still mad about '04, but largely, they don't get involved in this kind of pettiness. We'll get through it.

[politicasista]

2. Yes we do

Just thought about posting this because there may be some who don't like what is happening right now and find themselves drained or disenchanted with what's going on right now. I guess what I am saying is that I was basing the OP on these thoughts because I feel the same way, but I now understand that Obama and his campaign know who had his back when it mattered, no matter what trash is talked.

And I do agree with you. We will get through this. Yes we can! or Yes we will! (Sounds familiar doesn't it?) :patriot:

[beachmom]

3. Or maybe we're not in the in between time after all:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/28/215616/562/264/524518

Wes Clark was on, and Abrams asked Clark if Hillary would take this to the convention if she didn't get 100% of what she was demanding. He said she would. And then, he said it again.

Ugh, I'm going to have to give up politics soon. I cannot bear to see the Democratic party destroyed by such ego maniacs. Here's hoping they're bluffing or Clark doesn't have his talking points straight.

[politicasista]

4. Ugh is right

I like the General and I hope he is wrong. It's too bad he is in the HRC camp. He would have been a one of strongest VP candidates for Obama (that is out the window now).

[MH1]

5. Is there some sort of delusion going on with the ex-military commander Hillary followers?

Between Wes Clark and Joe Sestak - two smart, seemingly decent guys who mean well - it just doesn't make sense (to me) that they'd go to the mat for Hillary. First of all because I don't see her in any kind of positive light that would motivate self-sacrifice, but also because of how she's harming the Dem Party by arguments that will de-legitimize Obama as the nominee with many of her supporters. Lanny Davis was on Smerconish's radio show - I caught part of the "rewind" this morning - and he was bald-face lying his ass off with the "popular vote" argument but he was so brazen I think he even had Smerconish buying it. Do Clark and Sestak actually believe that crap the campaign is peddling, I wonder? Has it ever occurred to them to do a little fact checking? Or are they completely impervious to any evidence that she and her campaign are liars?

It saddens me to see these guys so entrenched in Clintonian politics that it seems they will, like her, do or say anything at this point. It really is difficult to watch.

But then I wonder about the military aspect. I am getting an uncomfortable sense about it that I can't put into words.

[beachmom]

6. That hooks into Larry Johnson and Joe Wilson, too.

This could actually be about the "DC Establishment" for which Joe Sestak and Wes Clark were a part of. This may be about personal loyalty. It makes zero sense to me why the CIA crowd that the Bush WH aimed to destroy for dissenting on WMD in Iraq -- Wilson, Johnson, and Plame -- would back Hillary, an Iraq War supporter, when another viable candidate who did not support the war from the start like Obama was available. In the case of Johnson & Wilson, they now write the most vile and hateful things I have ever seen. Why? The only answer I can come up with is they are all from the DC Establishment Tribe. And Kerry, although he communicates with and even socializes with the Establishment, has managed to maintain an arm's length with them, and therefore can go his own way when need be.