May 15, 2008
Obama, Edwards and the Disappearing Hillary (Bob Franken)
If we didn't realize it before, now we know that Barack Obama is a magician. Or at least, he knows how to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
The rabbit, of course, is John Edwards. Although I'm sure he won't appreciate the imagery, Edwards chose Wednesday as the day he hippity-hopped to Obama's side in Michigan to deliver his long-awaited endorsement.
What a coincidence! The announcement was perfectly timed to steal the headlines and newscasts away from Hillary Clinton and the embarrassment she caused Obama by clobbering him the day before in West Virginia.
Suddenly, in the fickle news world, "Almost Heaven" became almost nothing. The reaction to Clinton’s sentimental media victory lap was "Not so fast, Hillary."
It illustrates an important point: Barack Obama's campaign has outmaneuvered the Clinton operation at every turn. Frankly, it hasn't been all that difficult. All his strategists have usually had to do is stand back and watch hers trip over their own feet as they fought among themselves.
In those rare moments when they've had to initiate action, they turn to something they've been keeping in reserve. In this case it was someONE, that someone, John Edwards.
If you think Edwards just HAPPENED to decide Tuesday night he was going for Obama, I've got some land in West Virginia to sell you.
Now comes the inevitable question: Will Edwards be Obama's vice presidential pick? I doubt it. For starters, it's a been there, done that type of situation. Besides, chances are he would want some power in a new administration to push his priorities and, oh yeah, keep his profile high and compete with Hillary to be the heir apparent.
So, the interminable Democratic campaign lurches to Kentucky and Oregon, and then probably to a conclusion within a few weeks.
Right now, though, that woman you see in the yellow pantsuit, muttering under her breath, might well be Hillary Clinton.
As for Barack Obama, he needs to save up a lot more than just rabbits. Republican attacks dogs are preparing to chew up his hat … and him.
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That was some clever trick on Obama's side to bring in a former ambulance chaser and steal Hillary's headlines, a guy was focused on $400 haircuts while pursuing pointless campaign instead of spending quality time with his terminally ill wife and being with kids more often. I am sure that display of tactical genius quite impressed Obama's fans in Iran, Syria, Hamas and Trinity Church, but frankly we need a little more long term thinking and strategic vision from a future President than bringing in a trial lawyer with fake southern accent to cover an election fiasco on the finish line to avoid looking weak. Is it more appropriate for Obama to be on Curious George T-shirt rather than in Oval Office? Now, that's the change we can all believe in!
Comment by Misha — May 15, 2008 @ 11:39 am
The so-called "Republican attack dogs" have snarled and showed their toothless gums at Senator Obama and the Democrats in three straight Congressional losses of late. Senator You-Kow-Her has certainly tried the same low-road tactics in the Demorcratic Party primary. It hasn't made her anything but a pantsuit pariah. Therefore, from everything I've seen and heard since the mid-term elections of 2006, I'd say that Senator Obama and the Democrats could sure use a lot more of those credulous canine attacks from the Republicans — and from Senator You-Kow-Her as well. A good grumpy gumming from the last dogs dying inspires far less terror than pity.
Comment by Michael Murry — May 15, 2008 @ 11:51 am
The irony of this campaign cycle is that Hillary and Obama are running circles around each other, turning each other into butter as so artfully illustrated in the banned book, Brer Rabbit. Let's avoid the pitfalls of racial animosity and just concentrate on the fact that both Hillary and Obama are circling marbles in their hands, while declaring, "Who stole my strawberries?, strawberries being voters and superdelegates while John McCain launches the good ship lollipop in his quest for Global Warming voters, while many Republicans and sensible voters conduct a McCain mutiny behind the scenes. While all this goes on, the illiterate press mavens and political pundits inside the beltway, continue to ignore and gloss over the real story. Not one of these candidates is held in much esteem by a substantial number of the American public, and I certainly believe that someone, somewhere should point out the obvious. Not one of the three candidates is truly qualified to be President, and a third party candidate, no matter how ill prepared or ill perceived, may take out a sizeable portion of the vote. The implications of that are fascinating.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — May 15, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Bob, I wish your statement about Republican attack dogs was serious, but when I look this "wolf pack" I want to cry. We have a geriatric canine leader of clean, white poodles who's licking up to left-wing jackals, begging for a recycled green bone. He's just reluctant or afraid of using his jaws (dentures?) and go for a jugular against an upstart young dog of mixed breed trying to subdue a stubborn alpha female with white coat born and raised in West Virginia. Let's just hope that there are hungry and aggressive pitbulls hiding in Republican dog shelters waiting to sink their teeth into these Democratic fluff balls.
Comment by Misha — May 15, 2008 @ 11:57 am
The attack lines of the last three Special Elections suggest that the "Attack Dogs" had no teeth.
A race on the issues of the failing economy, the crumbling infrastructure, failing schools and two wars that won't end might make it just a little more interesting.
Comment by Blaksmith — May 15, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
Misha, enough already. You're just mad to see that a 'white, working class, blue collar'(and good looking, I might add.) (Okay, maybe he's rich too) person joined Obama's team. And if it's more time you and Hillary need, hate to tell ya, time's running out. He may not even need to wait until June 3. He may have all the delegates he needs by may 20.
Comment by Yvonne — May 15, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Yvonne you drank to much of that poisned kool aid Nobama will not win general just check out SAVAGEPOLITICS.COM
maybe you will change your mind
about this phony.the arcticles for the past 3 weeks should change your mind if not you are blind.you voting for an empty suit.
thnks
Comment by nolyingbama ever!!! — May 15, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
John Edwards was invented by haircuts when they wanted to move around. Haircuts of the world united and endorsed Obama!
Comment by Igor R. — May 15, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
Yvonne, evidently Edwards' magic rubbed off you as it did on many members of the naive and ignorant juries when that scum of a lawyer was driving doctors out of their private practices, making millions and raising the cost of our health care. Frankly, it's a blessing if he really joined osama's team given his successful debates and results as VP in 2004. Do you know how much he laughs at dumb creatures like you that call him "white, working class, blue collar" while he makes his hair in front of the mirror?
Comment by Misha — May 15, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
As a Hillary fan, I think it continues to show how well oiled a political machine the Obama campaign is. It was clear last week that Edwards was itching to endorse Obama since he won North Carolina and they held him back until it could maximise the possitive impact for Obama by making the West Virginia thumping go off of the front page and minimize Edwards potential for being a VP.
I think it was brilliant. If Edwards would have come out right after North Carolina the Clinton camp wouldn't have been ticked… Obama wins NC and get Edwards as a bonus. Instead Edwards allows himself to be used to take Clinton out of a news cycle and has to tick off Clinton supports.
This frees Obama to not put Edwards on the ticket. So, he gets out of that jam because now putting Edwards on the ticket will be seen as rubbing salt in the wound.
These guys are very, very good.
Comment by Chuck R — May 15, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Chuck
U also forget that it also shuts down one of HRC's main arguments—the working class vote–he can now point to edwards.
He also shuts down the MI and FLA mess. The rules committee can simply fuse the delegate totals of Obama and Edwards–Clinton is left with a miniscule gain in delegates.
I disagree with the VP point–he can use Edwards –when someone raises the nonsense of HRC as VP–they can make an equal argument for Edwards as VP
Comment by Theard — May 15, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
To #3
It doesn't change your point but the banned book was 'Little Black Sambo'.
Comment by james d granata — May 15, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Misha, Igor and the rest;
Your tired racial attacks are going nowhere. Between the screw ups of the republican party, those attacks won't work anymore. Hillary had more advantages than anyone person could want and she blew it. She had the name, the money, the former Pres and she lost to a Junior Senator from Illinois. How does it feel to know that Obama ran a clean race and beat her fair and square. I know it must hurt but someone has to lose and Hilary lost. Next, John McSame is going to feel the heat and the MSM is not going to save him.
Comment by Mike Coleman — May 15, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
When Obama hits, he hits hard. The jealousy that he can walk, talk, and do both with grace is rampant, and will continue to rankle the opposition all the way to November. That a young black man with no money or political machine, from no where in particular, can take out a privileged white female with a built in machine and a gurantee in her hand, is real justice, and so American in outcome. Hillary skated on her hubby's shirtail for decades, and has exhausted the democratic party with her overly inflated sense of self importance. God help us turn the page.
Comment by Rita1 — May 15, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Rosencrans, The banned story is "Lil Black Sambo" and I think that is probably why you make a fool of yourself in public. You actually have to know something in detail before you speak. You don't
Comment by Pghremodeler — May 16, 2008 @ 11:51 am
Mike, what's your point: that McCain has to lose because he'll feel the heat? Seems like a weak argument for a definite loss to me.
Comment by Igor R. — May 16, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Interesting observations Mr. Franken. However just because the media chooses to fawn over Mr. Edwards doesn't mean that many democrats did as well or that it actually was a bigger story than West Virginia AND NEBRASKA.
If your point is that "well, as long as Mr. Edwards shaved a percentage point from Hillary in popularity, that is all that matters" from the Obama camp's perspective….
Then may I add to the list, Oprah, Various Kennedys, Huffington Post, MSNBC-Olbermann, Matthews, Andrea Mitchell and company, Daily Kos, Pundits Blog, Richardson, Andrews, McGovern, Kerry and a few more I'm sure.
If all of these agitators took a point from Hillary, then how come Hillary is still at 50% popularity? Clearly Hillary is the more popular candidate to have so many against her and still have the public's support.
Barack Obama stole the election by cheating in the caucus states. Unless one of you pundits breaks this story you may end up looking silly if it takes media from another country to break it.
http://www.hillary-wins.com
Comment by Alessandro Machi — May 17, 2008 @ 12:34 am
Thanks for the corrections. It's refreshing to know that even though the book is banned there are still some who remember. Once again, thanks.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — May 17, 2008 @ 9:43 am
Do the same lunatic fringe neocons respond multiple times, all the time. Is Igor and Misha the same individual? No wonder the GOP is sinking.
Comment by Martha Vance — May 17, 2008 @ 9:45 am
#
Rosencrans, The banned story is "Lil Black Sambo" and I think that is probably why you make a fool of yourself in public. You actually have to know something in detail before you speak. You don't
Comment by Pghremodeler — May 16, 2008 @ 11:51 am
the name of the banned book, as stated previously is LITTLE Black Sambo not lil, since you are so ridiculously picky, and takes place in India and the tigers are turned to butter (Ghee) so humans can consume an inordinate amount of pancakes. and is not the point I believe the author of the post was making.
Comment by james d granata — May 18, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Misha's comment about Obama and the Curious George t-shirt is, in my opinion, a blantantly racist remark and I hope all will remember it to read all of her comments and consider that they are meant to further a racist's agenda.
I also don't believe for a second that Rosencrans reference to Brer Rabbit was a mistake. Everyone over a certain age would recognize that the story was the Little Black Sambo story.
So Rosencrans shows that he and Misha share the same racist agenda. Rosencrans shows that he will even pretend that he's not makiing a racist comment. He assumes that will exempt him from the racist label while furthering the racist agenda.
Absolutely despicable! Both of them! I'm glad to see so many comments protesting their submissions.
Someone told me when I was much younger that the only way the world changes is when the old ways die with the people who believed in them.
I'm glad to have lived long enough to see that the rcists are actully dying off and that the younger generations have, for the most part, not continued to accept or promote racist views.
There are still those among us who are willing to think that thinly-veiled racism is still OK. It's not!
Comment by smilinjack — May 19, 2008 @ 5:09 pm