TABLE FOR ONE : Outrageous optimism
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The Bush administration has been
such an unmitigated and total
disaster in almost every way that the Democratic presidential nominee, no matter who it is, will win in a major landslide in November 2008. As Will Rogers once said about the 1932 presidential race, “ If our man (Democrat ) lives ‘ til November he’ll win. ”
Although almost anything can, and probably will, happen between now and election day in 2008, I’m going way out on a limb and stating flatly that you can look for a black president and a woman vice president.
What ? Don’t you mean a woman president and a black vice president ? No. I’m saying it’s going to be Obama / Clinton in 2008. Outrageous optimism, you say ? Well, yes, of course it is — but somebody must say it first. It must be written somewhere for the very first time, so here it is.
I know New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is the front-runner. And I’ve been for her all along. I’d vote for anyone on earth (including Fidel Castro ) before I would vote for a right-wing nut Republican. Most faithful Republicans won’t bother to show up for Arizona Sen. John (pro-escalation ) McCain or former New York mayor Rudolph (proabortion ) Giuliani.
It’s going to be a national forfeit.
But I’ve been watching Hillary closely, and I fear she does not come across with enough sizzle. And let’s face it — sizzle is what it’s all about. Substance ? Forget it. Substance is important when your candidate has absolutely no sizzle, like John Kerry. It’s all about TV sizzle. And Hillary, although dynamic at times, is lacking in the one area her husband Bill had in abundance. Sizzle, charm, or as we used to say, charisma.
The “ It ” factor.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is the charisma-charm-sizzle poster boy. He’s a rock star in politics. Not since Bobby Kennedy has there been this kind of adoration and idol worship toward a politician. Obama has freshness, mystery, youth, energy — and on top of all that, he is NOT of the old guard in either party. The entire nation is ready to shout “ Get rid of the old guys and gals ! ” Haaa-leh-lu-ya !
You saw it here first... Obama / Clinton in 2008.
How can I be so certain ?
One word: Dubya.
Shrub (as the late, hilarious columnist Molly Ivins used to call him ) has turned out to be the greatest gift ever bestowed upon our side (Democrats ), and on a silver platter to boot. Shrub is stunningly inept in every regard, from his obviously disastrous foreign policies (Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine, North Korea, Iran, and Syria ), to his stupid attempt to privatize Social Security, to his failure after Hurricane Katrina, to spending billions on Iraq while cutting college loans, health services to the poor, preschool programs — but giving his rich friends in the oil bidness all kinds of tax breaks. And don’t forget his total denial of global warming.
Now the Decider has gotten us toe-totoe on the brink of a war with Iran. Brilliant ! The few die-hard Republican faithful remaining are secretly packing their bags. They are tripping over each other to distance themselves from the embarrassment of the Shrub. His approval rating is the lowest since Alissimo Francisco Franco, and continues to go down faster than an Olympic bobsled.
A surprising number of Americans don’t know the difference between liberal and conservative ideology. On the other hand, when someone like Shrub or Richard Nixon becomes so revolting to the American public, we will stampede to the polls and vote in the opposite direction no matter who the candidate might be. Remember Jimmy Carter ?
For the record, the polls have consistently revealed over the past six years that Hillary is one of the most admired women in America, equal to Oprah and Laura Bush. Admittedly, many love to hate Hillary.
Fact is, she’s got a war chest worth millions to run for the highest office in the land — and plenty more where that came from. She has carefully maneuvered her way to the front of the pack and positioned herself away from the far left with moderate votes as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
She was all set to become the Democratic nominee and the first woman president of the United States. And then from out of nowhere, Bam ! Hello, Mr. Dynamic, Barack Obama.
In a head-to-head contest, who will win ?
In head-to-head debates, Hillary will come across as slightly rigid. She will have all the information, all the right answers. She will choose her words very carefully and will not make a huge gaff that will cost her the nomination. She’s too smart to pull a racist remark like Trent Lott’s adoring words of praise for Strom Thurmond or Joe Biden’s famous line after he had been in the race for exactly six minutes. Obama is really “ clean” and “ articulate” (for an African-American ) he said. Yikes !
Barack will be totally prepared and professional but will add to the mix his youthful energy, charm, quick wit and passion to win over his own Democratic Party one by one. The feeling of pure hope he is infusing in many Americans is spine tingling. The average American is screaming for major change after eight years of lies, fear, war, arrogance and more lies.
Barack Obama will be a sizzling revolution. Meanwhile, Hillary will eventually have to decide if she can swallow her pride and step down from leading the Democratic ticket and be happy with No. 2.
I say “ Revolution now !”
Obama / Clinton in 2008. Write it down.
Grady Jim Robinson lives in Fayetteville. His column appears on Wednesdays.
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