Monday Morning Political Blogging Posted by Michael Cohen

I haven't written about politics in a while but this weekend's events merited a few thoughts.

THAT WACKY, WACKY RUSSERT: Plenty of smart folks have written about what a hack Tim Russert has become, but yesterday's interview with John McCain was just plain embarrassing.  McCain was practically crowing about what a "success" the surge has been, even attacking the Mittster for saying that the surge was "apparently" working. And yet never once did Russert raise the obvious rejoinder - "what about the lack of political progress. John?"  Instead of asking this question, Russert focused on the politics of Iraq while allowing McCain to restate his central mistruth about Iraq, namely that the surge is working (which of course by the President's own criteria it is not.)  This is the new conservative message on Iraq - it's a lie and shame on Tim Russert for allowing McCain to get away with it.

SHAME ON YOU: A couple of days ago, Bill Clinton told a New York Times reporter "shame on you" for focusing too much on the issue of race. Then what does the former President do on Saturday afternoon - he compares Barack Obama to Jesse Jackson. If you watch this video clip, Clinton's comment on Jackson is a total non sequiter, completely unprompted and, in my view, a clear and calculated attempt by Clinton to inject Jackson's name into the race. Bill Clinton is not a stupid man and when he makes a comment likes that he knows exactly what he is doing. Let us not forget, this is the man who invented the Sister Souljah moment. He knows what a toxic racial bogeyman Jesse Jackson is for some white voters. His intention was clear, reduce Obama to just another black politician whose political success is only due to the votes of black people. Bill Clinton, shame on you.

THE TWO BILL CLINTONS: If you look back at Bill Clinton's career on the national stage there really are two distinct sides to his political persona: there was the hopeful Kennedy-esque, "I believe in Hope" "I want to build a bridge to the 21st century" figure who inspired a lot of Dems and a good number of independents to cast a vote for him in 1992 and 1996. Then there is the Bill Clinton, who faced with a GOP/Ken Starr onslaught played cold, calculating and dirty politics to get re-elected and fend off impeachment.  (Of course he played some of those politics in 1992, but most Democrats were more than happy to look the other way).

Today, we're seeing both approaches on the campaign trail. Obama is playing the Clinton of 1992 card - the inspiring, unifying figure who is offering the country a new-style of politics. Unfortunately, in recent weeks Hillary's campaign is embodying the dark side of Clinton's personality. Now a lot of Democrats found much to love about both Bill Clintons.  Sure we wanted to be inspired by him, but secretly we loved it when he stuck it to the Republicans. Let's face it, in the hothouse era of the 1990s Democrats needed a national figure who was willing to mix it up with the Republicans and take on sacred cows in the party. No political figure in my lifetime has done more to fundamentally change the image of the Democratic Party on a whole host of issues, from crime and welfare to taxes and spending. And no Democrat has done a better job of outplaying the GOP at their own game.

But even after seven years of dirty GOP politics is that really what progressives want to return to; or do we want a new style of politics that expands on the positive advances from the 1990s and moves the party in a new and unique direction? Do we want to be inspired; do we want to believe again or do we just want someone who is tough enough to stand up to whatever the GOP throws at us? I don't ask this question rhetorically, because I think for a lot of folks the answer is not necessarily clear.

That brings me back to the campaign of Hillary Clinton. If I'm the junior Senator from New York I might ask myself, "what is the Presidency worth if this is the way I have to win it?" Because if she keeps up what she's been doing the past two weeks she's going to win this thing in a divisive and partisan manner that will piss off a lot of loyal Dems and what's worse give her little leeway to govern effectively.  I don't think Hillary Clinton reads democracyarsenal regularly, but if she did I would offer a small piece of advice: play the inspiration card, show people that you have a vision for the country, run a campaign like your husband did in 1992, which led me, a 21-year old college student, to put his life aside and devote himself fully and tirelessly to helping him win the Presidency. Winning ugly might get you the White House, but I'm not sure it's going to make America a better place.

BEST. ELECTION. EVER: Honestly, does it get any better then this? Obama wins Iowa; everyone figures its over (yours truly included). But then Hillary rallies and stuns everyone by winning NH. She takes Nevada and everyone assumes she has the huge mo . . . and then Obama beats her like a rented mule in SC. 28 POINTS - are you kidding me?  After a month of pitched battle, this thing is practically even and anyone who tells you they know what's going to happen is lying. On the GOP side, you have McCain the frontrunner, then you have Rudy the frontrunner, then you have Romney the frontrunner, then Huckabee wins Iowa, then McCain wins NH and he becomes the frontrunner, then Romney wins Michigan, then McCain wins SC . . . and now, as is so often the case, Florida may decide this thing. And here's the best part; it's still January! Isn't democracy great!

BROKERED CONVENTION UPDATE: So it's looking less and less likely that my dream of a brokered Republican convention is going to come true. The fall of Huckabee, the demise of Rudy and the fact that so many GOP primaries are winner takes all certainly suggests this thing will end in the primaries and maybe soon if McCain wins Florida.

So instead it looks like my nightmare might be realized - a brokered Democratic convention. I think this is far more likely then people realize because there is little reason to think that either Obama or Hillary will have the power to deliver a knockout punch, particularly not on Super Tuesday.  Throw in the fact that all the Dem primaries/caucuses are proportional and it just seems unlikely that anyone can truly run away with this race. This thing may go on for a while and the superdelegates may be the ones to decide it. Can you imagine the jockeying for those folks votes? I know Hillary leads know, but I wonder if all these red state endorsements for Obama might convince the superdelegates that Obama is more electable.

SCREW ELECTABILITY: Now having said my piece about electability, forget it, because it sure seems like that's what Democratic voters are saying  Remember four years ago when "electability" was the number one issue and we got John Kerry as the party nominee. How'd that work out? Guess what voters aren't pundits (a check in their favor for sure) and they should be deciding which candidate to choose on the merits and unless I'm reading the results wrong doesn't that seem to be the case in this election? I know I'm in the minority here but I think either one of these great candidates wins in November. Democrats should focus on figuring out who is the best person to lead the country and God bless 'em, that's what they're doing.

Comments

[Mike M.]

We ran such a solid slate this year, let's face it -- even a lot of our "second tier" was electable. So nice to just be able to pick a favorite for once. Can't wait for Feb 5th.

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This is great but I have heard that Bill Clinton now says that his party has done everything it can to eliminate racism....what a hypocrite. Joe Wilson is labeled a racist because of an outburst that had substantial logic behind it and the media fried him...

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