Wednesday, March 05, 2008

MY INCREDIBLE INSIGHT

CLINTON WON the two big states. She fought hard and deserves congratulations. It's a symbolic win, given that the delegate math does not seem to have shifted very much, but not entirely so. She can now easily make an argument that she deserves a fair hearing from the super-delegates regardless of the pledged delegate count.

THIS WILL BE HARROWING. Given their respective support and the clear ambivalence of the electorate, it would be foolish for either candidate to drop out. Yet it will be hard on the party for them both to stay in. My hope is that they work together to find a way to at least make it fun and interesting, and not just oppressively petty and painful.

ONE SUGGESTION: please don't go out saying McCain is better than Obama on any issue, no matter how it helps you. Obama could still be your party's nominee, after all.

SINCE THE WORLD WAS DEPRIVED of my incredible insight and unbeatable political strategy until it was too late last time, I'll say this right now: Obama must focus on winning Pennsylvania, and by a good margin. It's the only fight left: the only way to counter the argument that he cannot win the big, traditionally democratic, Clinton-leaning states, which is the argument Clinton will use should she face the convention with a minority of pledged delegates.

I LOVE MY WYOMING AND MISSISSIPPI, and they should not be wholly neglected.
But it's time to shift from a 50 state strategy to a one state strategy.

AND NO MATTER WHOM YOU SUPPORT, LET'S BE CLEAR: the only way to avoid a convention decided by politicians instead of voters is to provide Obama with a clear, undeniable electoral mandate. He has one now, and every time he broadens the delegate gap, he gets closer to an uncontested convention.

IF YOU REALLY SUPPORT CLINTON, then you must face facts and realize that she gained very few delegates last night, despite all the press. No matter her future performance, her road to the nomination relies almost surely on political gamesmanship and her ability to convince the super delegates to her cause.

BY ALL MEANS, FIGHT ON. But harbor no illusions. Unless you can show me math that proves otherwise (and I've seen none), she comes to the nomination by a questionable mandate and a lot of political arm-twisting. And as you know, I don't think that's such a hot position to lead from.

WASN'T THIS POST HILARIOUS?

That is all.

7 comments:

bcwoods said...

One word:

roflcopter

Wincey said...

I think there are *some* people that are not under the illusion that funny people need to be funny at all times.

I'm not one of them.

(Actually, I am one of them, and I appreciate your thoughtful comments; they're helping me to understand my personal hodgepodge of emotions about all this. Oh, hah, "hodgepodge" -- see, I made a pun. Or something!)

Anonymous said...

Worth the average of "your two cents" and the "1/2 cent" you think that's worth.
1.25 cents, thank you.

Annje said...

Thank you Hodgman. I've read your last two posts on the primaries and enjoyed them immensely. I found them quite refreshing. I agree with Wincey that not everyone who's funny need to be funny all the time. Your insights were written very elloquently and for that I thank you.

Have you ever thought about writing a serious book. After your last two posts I'm positive you could and with great success. Again thank you for the information and inspiring some of us (me) to get involved. Never thought I'd get picked to be a delegate for my county's assembly.

-A-

The Curiously Dull Mint said...

Annje, are you suggesting that Areas of My Expertise is not a serious book?

karyrogers said...

I'm glad to hear (read) that you love MISSISSIPPI. It is the land of my fathers. Well, father, as I only have the one.

A Mississippi-made election report from the future

Matthew said...

How many delegates does the great state of Ar (Hohoq) have? Do you think that they will be seated, if the the Dems in Ar share their results--or will Ar's mobility about the country cause problems, a la Florida?