Comments on: Just Saying… http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209 News and Views on the 2012 Elections Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:28:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Sebastian http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-282 Sebastian Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:24:40 +0000 http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-282 there's the self-calculating component, for sure, which i'd agree with you 100% on... I guess I just have more confidence in the ability of others to exert their own influence upon the clintons' will. there’s the self-calculating component, for sure, which i’d agree with you 100% on… I guess I just have more confidence in the ability of others to exert their own influence upon the clintons’ will.

]]> By: Suzanne http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-280 Suzanne Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:15:53 +0000 http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-280 In fact, the Clintons are so totally out for themselves, I'd rank their priorities like this: 1) Win, by any means possible 2) damage Obama so even if he gets the nomination, they've helped McCain crush him. That way, Clinton can run again in 2012 and won't have to wait eight years for another turn. Of course -- option 2 only works if they don't damage their political capital in the process. Sebastian probably would say they can't pull off #2 without reuining their own standing in the process. I hope that's true. But so far they seemed to have rallied a "fight on" base. In fact, the Clintons are so totally out for themselves, I’d rank their priorities like this:

1) Win, by any means possible
2) damage Obama so even if he gets the nomination, they’ve helped McCain crush him. That way, Clinton can run again in 2012 and won’t have to wait eight years for another turn.

Of course — option 2 only works if they don’t damage their political capital in the process. Sebastian probably would say they can’t pull off #2 without reuining their own standing in the process. I hope that’s true. But so far they seemed to have rallied a “fight on” base.

]]> By: Sebastian http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-279 Sebastian Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:11:53 +0000 http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-279 you refer to the clinton "diehards" waging war -- i much prefer the term "dead-enders"... the poll numbers are by far her strongest card, and believe me, they will become her crutch in the next few days. however, as the argument over her staying in plays out (for the first time), the poll numbers will plummet because I have to believe that the math is too obvious. not to mention the superdelegates changing the math by the day in obama's favor... you refer to the clinton “diehards” waging war — i much prefer the term “dead-enders”…

the poll numbers are by far her strongest card, and believe me, they will become her crutch in the next few days. however, as the argument over her staying in plays out (for the first time), the poll numbers will plummet because I have to believe that the math is too obvious. not to mention the superdelegates changing the math by the day in obama’s favor…

]]> By: Suzanne http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-277 Suzanne Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:56:22 +0000 http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-277 Yep, that's what I'm saying. And the Clinton camp will know the math, and know that winning for them would only come at the cost of WWIII in the party, but they'll stoke the fire on "not shutting down the vote." That's why it really helps to have two candidates who are good sports. It seems pretty clear that if Hillary is determined NOT to be a good sport, she'll be able to must the diehards to wage the war with her. That's my fear. Yep, that’s what I’m saying. And the Clinton camp will know the math, and know that winning for them would only come at the cost of WWIII in the party, but they’ll stoke the fire on “not shutting down the vote.” That’s why it really helps to have two candidates who are good sports. It seems pretty clear that if Hillary is determined NOT to be a good sport, she’ll be able to must the diehards to wage the war with her. That’s my fear.

]]> By: Dillon http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-274 Dillon Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:50:44 +0000 http://backalleymedia.org/?p=209#comment-274 All right, all right. So the question that's starting to bug me is one of appearances. We all know the math is against her, we all know she has little hope of actually winning on pledged delegates right now. But if a bunch of superdelegates flock to Obama and try to pressure her out of the race, what will it _look_ like to all those people who (when polled) said they wanted the race to continue - especially if she wins one or more big states tonight? Could the party be damaged by _seeming_ to be heavy-handed and autocratic, even when it's not? All right, all right. So the question that’s starting to bug me is one of appearances. We all know the math is against her, we all know she has little hope of actually winning on pledged delegates right now. But if a bunch of superdelegates flock to Obama and try to pressure her out of the race, what will it _look_ like to all those people who (when polled) said they wanted the race to continue - especially if she wins one or more big states tonight? Could the party be damaged by _seeming_ to be heavy-handed and autocratic, even when it’s not?

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