BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Well, my mother always told me if I couldn’t say anything nice, not to say anything at all.  But….

Hillary Clinton has seen her dream turn into a nightmare.  Her defeat is going to play in her dreams and restless sleep for days and weeks to come.  The only way she can possibly feel vindicated is if Barack Obama loses the November election.  After her speech last night, the only thing she can hope to say is “I told you so.”  That’s the truth of the matter. 

It has to be disheartening to see your ambitions shattered with the entire world watching.  We have all suffered those moments… at least most of us have.  It is humiliating and in some ways embarrassing, especially when the expectations have been so high.  But, it’s life.

Clinton, in fact, did enter the race with what seemed to be a sense of entitlement.  After all she is a Clinton and the wife of a President.  She knew all the right people.  She had her machine well oiled for the race.  But, if her campaign showed one thing, it showed that she is a member of the old guard.  She selected campaign advisers who still believed that it would be politics as usual.  It’s not.

When Bill was elected in 1992, the Internet was beginning to evolve.  When Bill was elected, every move a candidate made was not made visible to the world.  Back in the day, candidates vied for “face time” on the national media scene.  And, the media did a fair job of airing exactly what the candidate wanted aired.  Donations came from names and faces known personally to the candidates.

But, the times have changed.  The Internet is a tool that is predominantly “owned” by young, tech savvy souls, who have found a voice in politics and everything else.  Barack Obama surrounded himself with those people who knew how to use the Internet to work the masses.  He has realized that while his supporters may be scattered about the country, the voices can be raised in unison and in support.  It was masterful. 

The bottomline is simple.  Clinton’s campaign was old school.  Obama’s was cutting edge.  Clinton took so much for granted.  Obama left no stone unturned.  While Clinton dismissed the caucus process, Obama took advantage of it.  Clinton was outmaneurvered, pure and simple.  The style of Obama’s campaign represented change and showed all politicians to come, at least in the near future, how it is done.

All that said, Clinton still doesn’t seem to get it.  There are no smoke filled rooms in the back of the convention halls.  There are masses of people texting one another on the scene, taking pictures with cell phones, communicating well beyond the confines of the “here and now.”  And, nothing goes without notice or being recorded.  Nothing!  And, as we have seen what is noticed and recorded is played over and over again on the Internet, whether the broadcast media chooses to share it or not.

Clinton lost because she didn’t keep up with the times and the technology.  But, no matter the shortcomings of her campaign or the astuteness of Obama’s, it is over.  The fat lady has sung, even if the the lady in the pantsuit hasn’t.

Now, to my point.  I understand disappointment.  Been there, done that.  But, I also understand grace under fire.  I understand that sometimes you can wear out your welcome.  I understand that no matter how much one loves chocolate candy, sometimes enough is enough.  And, no matter how much some people love Hillary Clinton, it’s over for her.

Until last night I would have welcomed her onto the Obama ticket.  Given the chance to make the speech to insure party unity, Clinton failed miserably.  I could only think of the poor housewife whose husband had cheated on her, yet she begged him to stay, to love her.  Well, I learned a long time ago that you can’t make someone stay and you can’t make someone love you.  Sure, it’s painful to let go.  But, it isn’t worth losing your dignity over.  Last night Clinton lost her dignity.  It’s over.  Period. 

And, the one thing Clinton did, at least for me, was to show that she has no place on the ticket or setting foot in the White House unless she pays for the ticket and stands in the line.  Of course, there’s the possibility that Obama could ask her to join him on the ticket and that would not deter me from supporting him.  But, there’s also the possibility that I will have the winning lottery ticket this coming Friday night.  I’m not going to hold my breath.  Clinton shouldn’t either.