What Does Hillary Have Up Her Sleeve?
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Gary [email protected]
You may remember him. He was the Minister of Information for Iraq during the invasion. The press lovingly referred to him as "Baghdad Bob."[[In-content Ad]]He had a penchant for ignoring the obvious and a patent disregard for facts.
After U.S. forces seized control of the Baghdad airport, Bob told reporters, "We butchered the force present at the airport. We have retaken the airport! There are no Americans there!"
And, after U.S. forces penetrated Central Baghdad, Bob said, "Nobody came here. Those America losers, I think their repeated frequent lies are bringing them down very rapidly ... Baghdad is secure, is safe."
That last statement came on April 5, 2003. On April 8, Bob disappeared - never to be seen again.
Perhaps, he could reappear as a campaign adviser for Hillary.
Now, I know that underdog politicians always overstate their chances in an election. People like Ralph Nader and Ron Paul always say they have a chance to win when everybody in the world knows they don't.
But Hillary's case is a little different.
Her continued and dogged determination is interesting.
I'm pretty sure she's not delusional, which would be one explanation for her behavior. So if she's not delusional, what is motivating her? What tricks does she have up the sleeve of her pantsuit?
Aside from a win in West Virginia, there is little good news for Hillary.
She's beyond broke. Her campaign is $20 million in the red, even though she raised more money than any other candidate in history - except her opponent, of course, who's flush with cash.
Superdelegates, including the likes of John Edwards, are flocking to Barack, who just this week pulled ahead of Hillary in the superdelegate count despite her "big win" in West Virginia.
She's behind in states, popular vote and pledged delegates as well.
Yet she still thinks she's going to be the nominee.
Hillary was interviewed by Katie Couric on CBS this week.
It was fascinating.
Couric, I thought, did a pretty good job of nailing her down on the issues.
Couric pointed out that nearly a third of Hillary's supporters say if she's not the nominee, they'll vote for John McCain.
Couric suggested that it might be better if Hillary got out of th race to unify the party.
"I believe it would hurt the eventual nominee, if it is not me, if I were to get out of this race before everyone has had a chance to vote, because it would appear as though I had been somehow pushed out, people had been deprived their right to vote. We will finish this process. We will finish the elections that are still to come. We will seat the Michigan and Florida delegates, I hope by May 31."
After that, both candidates can make their case about who the best nominee would be, she said.
Couric: "If Barack 0bama declares victory ... once he reaches that magic number of 2025, will you still hold out if Florida and Michigan have not been counted."
Hillary: "Absolutely, because that's not the right number. How can we have a nominee based on 48 states, especially two states that are so critically important to the Democratic chances in the fall? I think that would be a mistake."
She reiterated her position about waiting until all the votes are in and the DNC has ruled. Interesting that she is so willing to change the rules at the end of the game. (Keep this in mind as you read the answer to the next question.)
Couric: "Can you lay out for me right now, Senator Clinton, the scenario where, over the next several weeks, you get enough delegates to win this nomination."
Hillary: "Certainly, I think we'll do well in these upcoming contests. I think we will get delegates out of Florida and Michigan. I think the superdelegates are not bound to support anyone. They don't have to stay with any person. They can make a decision today and change it tomorrow. And their job, according to the rules of the DNC, is to exercise independent judgement to determine who would be the best president and who would be the better, stronger candidate against John McCain and I think I have a stronger case. I think at the end of this process that case will be self-evident and we'll see what happens."
Hmmm. She said, "according to the rules of the DNC," didn't she? So it's OK for the superdelegates to toss her the nomination regardless of how the nation voted.
But wait. According to those same DNC rules, Florida and Michigan don't count. But Hillary wants them to count. I guess Hillary follows the rules when it helps and ignores them when it hurts.
Oh, well, whaddaya do?
At this point, Couric asked her about Barack polling better against McCain.
Hillary said those are national polls and she does better in state polls, which show her winning states with more electoral votes.
Then she made the "big state" argument, which is totally bogus.
Sure, she won California and New York, but so what? In the general election, the Democrat always wins California and New York. If Barack is the nominee, he'll win New York and California.
It's states like Tennessee and Missouri that end up making the difference. Ask Al Gore. If he would have won Tennessee, he would have been president.
Couric: "After your victory in Pennsylvania, Barack Obama won, so far, the commitment of 57 superdelegates. You've netted 15. Aren't things trending his way in the superdelegate department?
Well, I think we both have been picking up superdelegates, I think that will continue, but I go back ...
Couric interrupts: "But he's got 57 senator and you've gotten 15."
Hillary: "Well, but I go back to the basic point. Ah, the game isn't over. The elections aren't over. No buzzer has sounded. We have to get to 2,210 delegates and then we'll have a nominee and until we get there, we're not likely to know who that nominee will be."
Couric: So, today as we speak, you still expect to be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States?
Hillary: I do. I absolutely do expect to the be the nominee.
You know, I tend to believe her.
Do a bunch of these superdelegates owe Hillary a favor or two?
Is there some blockbuster skeleton rattling around in Barack's closet?
As I said before, I don't think she's delusional. I'm not sure what she's got going on, but I would never count out the Clinton political machine.
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You may remember him. He was the Minister of Information for Iraq during the invasion. The press lovingly referred to him as "Baghdad Bob."[[In-content Ad]]He had a penchant for ignoring the obvious and a patent disregard for facts.
After U.S. forces seized control of the Baghdad airport, Bob told reporters, "We butchered the force present at the airport. We have retaken the airport! There are no Americans there!"
And, after U.S. forces penetrated Central Baghdad, Bob said, "Nobody came here. Those America losers, I think their repeated frequent lies are bringing them down very rapidly ... Baghdad is secure, is safe."
That last statement came on April 5, 2003. On April 8, Bob disappeared - never to be seen again.
Perhaps, he could reappear as a campaign adviser for Hillary.
Now, I know that underdog politicians always overstate their chances in an election. People like Ralph Nader and Ron Paul always say they have a chance to win when everybody in the world knows they don't.
But Hillary's case is a little different.
Her continued and dogged determination is interesting.
I'm pretty sure she's not delusional, which would be one explanation for her behavior. So if she's not delusional, what is motivating her? What tricks does she have up the sleeve of her pantsuit?
Aside from a win in West Virginia, there is little good news for Hillary.
She's beyond broke. Her campaign is $20 million in the red, even though she raised more money than any other candidate in history - except her opponent, of course, who's flush with cash.
Superdelegates, including the likes of John Edwards, are flocking to Barack, who just this week pulled ahead of Hillary in the superdelegate count despite her "big win" in West Virginia.
She's behind in states, popular vote and pledged delegates as well.
Yet she still thinks she's going to be the nominee.
Hillary was interviewed by Katie Couric on CBS this week.
It was fascinating.
Couric, I thought, did a pretty good job of nailing her down on the issues.
Couric pointed out that nearly a third of Hillary's supporters say if she's not the nominee, they'll vote for John McCain.
Couric suggested that it might be better if Hillary got out of th race to unify the party.
"I believe it would hurt the eventual nominee, if it is not me, if I were to get out of this race before everyone has had a chance to vote, because it would appear as though I had been somehow pushed out, people had been deprived their right to vote. We will finish this process. We will finish the elections that are still to come. We will seat the Michigan and Florida delegates, I hope by May 31."
After that, both candidates can make their case about who the best nominee would be, she said.
Couric: "If Barack 0bama declares victory ... once he reaches that magic number of 2025, will you still hold out if Florida and Michigan have not been counted."
Hillary: "Absolutely, because that's not the right number. How can we have a nominee based on 48 states, especially two states that are so critically important to the Democratic chances in the fall? I think that would be a mistake."
She reiterated her position about waiting until all the votes are in and the DNC has ruled. Interesting that she is so willing to change the rules at the end of the game. (Keep this in mind as you read the answer to the next question.)
Couric: "Can you lay out for me right now, Senator Clinton, the scenario where, over the next several weeks, you get enough delegates to win this nomination."
Hillary: "Certainly, I think we'll do well in these upcoming contests. I think we will get delegates out of Florida and Michigan. I think the superdelegates are not bound to support anyone. They don't have to stay with any person. They can make a decision today and change it tomorrow. And their job, according to the rules of the DNC, is to exercise independent judgement to determine who would be the best president and who would be the better, stronger candidate against John McCain and I think I have a stronger case. I think at the end of this process that case will be self-evident and we'll see what happens."
Hmmm. She said, "according to the rules of the DNC," didn't she? So it's OK for the superdelegates to toss her the nomination regardless of how the nation voted.
But wait. According to those same DNC rules, Florida and Michigan don't count. But Hillary wants them to count. I guess Hillary follows the rules when it helps and ignores them when it hurts.
Oh, well, whaddaya do?
At this point, Couric asked her about Barack polling better against McCain.
Hillary said those are national polls and she does better in state polls, which show her winning states with more electoral votes.
Then she made the "big state" argument, which is totally bogus.
Sure, she won California and New York, but so what? In the general election, the Democrat always wins California and New York. If Barack is the nominee, he'll win New York and California.
It's states like Tennessee and Missouri that end up making the difference. Ask Al Gore. If he would have won Tennessee, he would have been president.
Couric: "After your victory in Pennsylvania, Barack Obama won, so far, the commitment of 57 superdelegates. You've netted 15. Aren't things trending his way in the superdelegate department?
Well, I think we both have been picking up superdelegates, I think that will continue, but I go back ...
Couric interrupts: "But he's got 57 senator and you've gotten 15."
Hillary: "Well, but I go back to the basic point. Ah, the game isn't over. The elections aren't over. No buzzer has sounded. We have to get to 2,210 delegates and then we'll have a nominee and until we get there, we're not likely to know who that nominee will be."
Couric: So, today as we speak, you still expect to be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States?
Hillary: I do. I absolutely do expect to the be the nominee.
You know, I tend to believe her.
Do a bunch of these superdelegates owe Hillary a favor or two?
Is there some blockbuster skeleton rattling around in Barack's closet?
As I said before, I don't think she's delusional. I'm not sure what she's got going on, but I would never count out the Clinton political machine.
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