As Good As It Gets
Poor Hillary. It occurs to me that her drive for the white house is all that she has. I think a deal was struck some time ago, when the Clinton’s marriage was in trouble, that Bill would do everything he could to get her a turn at the wheel when the time was right in exchange for her continued support. If (when!) she loses the nomination what will she have left?
A senate seat. Chelsea’s grown, I think it charitable to say her marriage isn’t what it once was. What other ambitions, goals, or interests does she have? Does she play golf?
Look at the flip side. Obama clearly has other passions, his recent vacation with his family a good example. He clearly loves his family very dearly and no doubt wishes he could spend more time with them.
I sincerely believe that everything Hillary’s done over the last 8 years was with the presidency in mind so if (when!) she loses the nomination do you think she’ll champion a cause like Al Gore? I don’t think so. The day she loses is the day she starts campaigning for her next shot at the big prize. That might involve joining Obama’s administration in some capacity or switching from the senate to the house or a governorship.
But make no mistake whatever she does will be resume building (padding!) with all roads leading to the same place.
If (in Hillary’s dreams!) Obama lost the nomination you know he’d have no trouble staying busy. Hell, we’d amend whatever rules we had to in order to make him as Prime Minister. Seriously, if the unthinkable happens he should get Canada as a runner up prize. We wouldn’t complain one bit.
But in reality he’d probably bust his butt helping democrats get elected across the US. He’d probably be offered an important post in either a Clinton or McCain administration. Is a governor spot available in Illinois? I know Michelle said if he lost he wouldn’t run again but once the kids are 4 to 8 years older they may reconsider and some executive experience could come in handy.
How does Ambassador to the UN sound? Sorry, did I say Ambassador? I meant Secretary General.
Could you imagine if a Barack Obama teamed up with an Al Gore? All you’d need is a mildly supportive Clinton administration and they could turn this global warming thing around.
Oh well, bittersweetly fun as it is to speculate I’m confident it won’t come to that.
But if you want to speculate imagine what an Obama State Of The Union would sound like. Manned mission to Mars by the end of his second term? Investment in alternate energy sources? Giant wind farms, solar panels on all government buildings? Rebirth of the electric car? Peace with Al Qaida? An end to the embargo on Cuba? Russia joining NATO? A North American currency? What surprises might come.
The night Bush won I asked myself what wars might come. From the darkness emerges a new hope. We stepped up to the abyss of self destruction and thankfully at the last moment said “nah, this isn’t for us“.
A Clinton State Of The Union would probably be full of identifying ‘challenges’ otherwise known as making excuses for why things aren’t getting done. It’s not that I doubt her ability to get things done I just don’t think her coattails will get both the house and the senate for her party so her attempts at legislative movement would likely be blocked.
The point is, in the white house or not I see Obama being very productive.
