Update | 3-26: I wasn't the only one to be impressed by Brooks' column. This morning he was accorded the honor, rare for a Republican pundit, of a solo Today show apperance, and followed it up with a Morning Joe visit.
Sometimes you read something so simultaneously insightful and eloquent that you just have to share it with others. That's how I feel about David Brooks' column in today's New York Times, The Long Defeat.
Brooks begins by convincingly making the case that Hillary's chances of winning the Dem nomination have dwindled to a paltry 5%.
Yet all signs point to her soldiering on to the bitter end. As Brooks puts it: "Hillary Clinton’s presidential prospects continue to dim. The door is closing. Night is coming. The end, however, is not near." By protracting the fight, Clinton would seriously harm Barack Obama's general election prospects. Brooks asks: "why does she go on like this?" and gives this, in my opinion brilliant, answer:
Clinton’s long rear-guard action is the logical extension of her relentlessly political life.
For nearly 20 years, she has been encased in the apparatus of political celebrity. Look at her schedule as first lady and ever since. Think of the thousands of staged events, the tens of thousands of times she has pretended to be delighted to see someone she doesn’t know, the hundreds of thousands times she has recited empty clichés and exhortatory banalities, the millions of photos she has posed for in which she is supposed to appear empathetic or tough, the billions of politically opportune half-truths that have bounced around her head.
No wonder the Clinton campaign feels impersonal. It’s like a machine for the production of politics. It plows ahead from event to event following its own iron logic. The only question is whether Clinton herself can step outside the apparatus long enough to turn it off and withdraw voluntarily or whether she will force the rest of her party to intervene and jam the gears.
I don't think political analysis gets much better, or better expressed, than that.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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This tells it all
March 25, 2008 - 07:25 ET by ThisnThatClinton 1984
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Does She Have the Grace...
March 25, 2008 - 07:29 ET by on-the-rocksto bow out or will she remain locked in mortal combat with her fellow traveler?
The latter will be bloodier in the short run, but less harmful in the long run for the nation, as McCain is likely less a socialist than either of the Democrats.
Not only lacks grace.....but
March 25, 2008 - 10:32 ET by WildBillCould it be Shrill the Hill just doesn't want a black to become the nominee.....hmmm. I mean his liberalness is clearly farther from the bad ol' Bush policies than hers, hates America more, and he's a closet Muslim to boot. I think it's pure racism on her part. LOL
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged." -Abraham Lincoln
I think she could win this
March 25, 2008 - 07:53 ET by FairlightHillary, before you put another notch in your lipstick case, you better make sure you put Obama in his place.
Ode to Hillary
March 25, 2008 - 08:48 ET by HypocriteHaterAnd she's the real tough cookie with the long history of breaking little hearts, like the one in me.
Thats o.k., lets see how you do it (Hillary). Put up your dukes, lets get down to it!
All singing aside - Hill's been very, very quiet lately. This can't be the end ALREADY!
Hillary Video Game
March 25, 2008 - 07:45 ET by P.J. GladnickThey should come out with a new mortal combat video game called "Scorched Earth" about Hillary's ego forcing her to remain in the race and taking down all around her.
Ok, how'd you do that
March 25, 2008 - 07:50 ET by ThisnThatOk, how'd you do that picture thing?
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
I think only the
March 25, 2008 - 07:55 ET by motherbeltI think only the administrators have the capacity to do stuff like that.
That would be correct
March 25, 2008 - 16:33 ET by Matthew SheffieldOnly bloggers and admins can post pix in their comments.
She won't bow out..I still
March 25, 2008 - 07:53 ET by motherbeltShe won't bow out..I still say they will have to drag her out, kicking and screaming, by her heels.
She has come too far to quit. Those around the Clintons say that she was the one who forced Bill to fight against the release of Whitewater documents, to hang tough over the Paula Jones scandal, to brazen it out after Monica Lewinsky.
I can't see her changing now.
The question is what will she do when it is over? I used to think she would go back to the Senate to stay there forever, like Ted Kennedy. Now, I'm not so sure.
I think the title of her thesis from Wellesley was an apt description of her own life: "There Is Only the Fight." Every time something has been completed, she has moved on to a new goal, a new battle.
When this last battle is finally over, what will she have left?
She will have...
March 25, 2008 - 08:06 ET by heldmywShe will have the knowledge that...she tried and was found wanting.
Not by the United States, but by her own party.
She will have the horror of knowing that she is not as good, skilled or smart as her husband, that all the humiliation and posing were for nothing, and that she will now join Kerry, Gore, Mondale, et al, in the losers hall of fame. There isn't even the possibility of blaming the 'vast right-wing conspiracy'. Nor, I think is there a possibility that she will be called again.
In the aftermath of this primary campaign, Hillary will be (rightly or wrongly) vilified for damaging Obama's chances by holding on when it was far past time for her to quit and let the Party solidify and focus on the General. She will be blamed in large part for their loss.
Barring an act of God, she is done.
Really done. We may finally be rid of the Clintons.
Barring an act of God, she
March 25, 2008 - 09:04 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsBarring an act of God, she is done.
Really done. We may finally be rid of the Clintons.
If only you were right. I believe that if Obama gets the nomination, the Vast Clinton Smear Machine will do all it can to keep Obama from winning the election so Hillary can immediately start her quest for Clinton In 2012.
Rid of them? Till death do us part.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
DFTT... I agree with you
March 25, 2008 - 16:47 ET by bigtimerDFTT...
I agree with you here...hell hath no fury like the smartest woman in the world scorned...she will do whatever it takes to make sure Obama is defeated...behind the scenes via some of her loyal minions including Bill.
She also is not going to give up on being the Majority in the Senate either...if possible...I believe she will run again...unfortunately...
Nightmare all the way around, no matter how you look at it.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Clintion's Chances are Much Better than 5%
March 25, 2008 - 08:50 ET by allanfI don't agree that Clintion's chances of getting the nomination are slight. The nomination is in the hands of the Democratic Party bosses and Hillary just needs to steal the thunder from Obama, not the nomination.
Hillary Clinton won Florida by 300,000 votes. If Forida is included in the the poplular vote totals, Obama's 700,000 popular vote lead is cut dramatically. If Florida and Michigan are included in the totals, Obama's popular vote lead is just 87,000 votes.
After the upcoming primaries, Hillary will probably have the popular vote lead when Florida and Michigan are included and perhaps with just Florida included. Florida hosted a substantial primary with 1.7 million Democrat voters participating. Obama, Clinton and Edwards were all on the ballot and their campaigns were in high gear in anticipation of "Super Tuesday" the next week. Voters in Florida were very much engaged.
Hillary will be able to make an impressive case to the delegates that she deserves the nomination. The popular vote totals will be razor thin once Florida is included The pledged delegate difference, particularly if Florida is included will also be marginal.
Even if the Florida delegation is not seated, she can make the case that if the 1.7 million Floridia Democrats are included in the totals, there is little difference in popular vote or delegate count. Next she can argue that she is more electable than Obama.
It will be interesting to watch. Reports of her political demise though are premature.
Why on earth would she conceed?
Agreed.
March 25, 2008 - 09:40 ET by Missouri ConservativeIf she smokes Obama in Pennsylvania, and wins 4 of the remaining 5 primaries, or even all 5 (since Obama's poll numbers in NC have dropped), she will have shaved Obama's delegate lead way down, and will likely lead in the popular vote, especially if you include MI and FL.
Plus, all this time she is going to be trashing Obama and dredging up all kinds of dirt on him to drive his poll numbers down against McCain. Once she has mortally wounded Obama for the general election, she'll then pitch her case to the powers-that-be in the Democrat party.
Will there be riots? Yes.
Will the AA base possibly be shattered? Yes.
Will all those young college students stay home? Yes.
None of that matters. All that matters is the nomination at this point. The Clintons probably surmise that they can patch all that stuff up after they secure the ticket.
I am SO hoping for Hillary to win this. As Noel would say...."how delicious!!"
"women and minorities hardest hit"
HIllary will Claim She is Doing Obama A Favor
March 25, 2008 - 10:14 ET by allanfHillary, in the best tradition of the Clintons, can argue she is helping the process. She is only dredging up dirt the Republicans would have hurled at Obama in the General Election. If Obama is the nominee, it is better for the dirt to come out earlier, so he can recover. If Obama is mortally wounded, then it is better to know now and nominate her.
So you see, all this division really helps the Democrats.
What left?
March 25, 2008 - 10:04 ET by cheesegraterIf Obama wins the nomination and the election he could nominate her for SCOTUS.
Lay Down? ........Never!
March 25, 2008 - 08:06 ET by DanoAre you kidding? This women would never lay down. She craves the spotlight too much. She craves the attention, the spotlight, the money and the "I am better than everyone else" notoriety.
You have no grasp of this
March 25, 2008 - 09:15 ET by NL207You have no grasp of this woman. Spotlight? Attention? Bah! HRC craves power. Her ambition knows no limits. This is exactly the sort of person who should never be allowed near the seat of power.
NL297
March 25, 2008 - 10:13 ET by iveseenitallRight on, NL207. If nothing else, Hillary is power hungry. She and Bill are two of the most dangerous people in the world. If she gets elected, she will make Bill the ambassador to the U.N. and they will make him their leader. The Clintons will rule the world. That's what they want. Obama is also a communist, but he isn't ready yet. Besides, I don't think he can win in the general election. I don't believe the Dims think he can either. Don't count her out just yet. No telling what Hillary will do next-- Vince Foster, Ron Brown, et.al. should have known that.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Power
March 25, 2008 - 10:57 ET by Danopower should have been put in there...............was not awake yet.
What the heck are the
March 25, 2008 - 09:49 ET by marpelWhat the heck are the Clintons going to be like when they get too old and tired to do this? That's what I'm interested in knowing.
David Brookes is as smart as they come. I've disagreed with him on a some things in the past, but he is a brilliant writer.
Don't count her out yet...
March 25, 2008 - 10:21 ET by zachlindDon’t count her out yet. These people are the epitome of the sleaze opportunist. They’re not even good politicians. What’s got them this far? They just don’t take any prisoners. Period. There is on one long term solution though. A wooden mallet and stake, a bible and a cross.
you forgot
March 25, 2008 - 16:37 ET by UndercoverConservative...silver and Holy Water.
this "woman" has been IMHO going for the Presidency since she first supported her husband in Arkansas for Governor. Possibly even before then. her entire so-called life has been solely dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get the top power slot. Morals, ideas, consideration for others, anything can and will be sacrificed to get this. That sort of "dedication" is frightening. Especially when it doesn't come with a reason-some sort of massive "wrong" that can only be "righted" by specifically electing Hillary as POTUS. Something so egregious that even First Lady status was insufficient.
I'm thinking Genesis of a Superhero/Supervillian level here. What trauma occurred in little Hillary's life? Did her uncle get murdered by a thug she failed to use her Spider Powers to stop? Was Hillary's homeworld destroyed in a massive cataclysm and as she was raised by a kindly farm family, she must do everything in her power so Earth doesn't meet the same fate?
Or is it more of a problem that she wants power and control over everything, but guys with red and blue tights keep interfering with her plans? Is it a bird? is it a plane? no! It's VastRightWingConspiracyMan!"
Tune in for next week's exciting episode, "Ash vs. The Hillary Army."! Drink your Ovaltine!
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
Well, now that the great
March 25, 2008 - 12:08 ET by jdhawkWell, now that the great David Brooks has declared billary failed, that's it! This opinion piece just has to cap it don't you think? I mean you have trusted liberals like Matthews calling billary's husband the Music Man! Is there a concerted effort in the last several weeks to get her off the stage or what?
Meanwhile, the only press that Senator McCain is getting is negative - if he gets any at all. He is being wiped clean from the media so far as possible.
The drive by media is playing this brilliantly. They have chosen their leader, a black racist, America is wrong, hate monger, over a far left liberal white women. And while that contest is up in the air they have sanitized their opponent from the air waves.
And what is this really about? It is not about the positives of either bambi's or billary's campaign. It is about the negatives. The perception, at least until "pastorgate" surfaced, was that billary's negatives would kill her in the general election. What a quandry the media and the party big wigs must be in now. It turns out that bambi's negatives are climbing and may eclipse billary's. What to do?
Good post, JD! While I was
March 25, 2008 - 14:16 ET by marpelGood post, JD! While I was reading it, I thought you were going to infer that when the media is not ignoring McCain they are reporting negatively about him to try to garner more votes for Barack once the general election comes around. I think that's what's happening now.
For the first time in a long while, I actually agree with President Bill. I think both Hillary and McCain are more patriotic than Obama. How can you be patriotic if you are Obama sitting through J.Wright sermons for 20 years?
"Those who are the most
March 25, 2008 - 12:30 ET by mattm"Those who are the most desirous of power are the least qualified to have it." - Publius
Hillary Clinton is a Sociopathic Liar
March 25, 2008 - 23:20 ET by thoridflyWhat kind of a warped individual says, "I remember coming in under sniper fire" and then you look at the video and there's not even a BB GUN in sight?!
You think that kind of a person can admit that her campaign - her entire political career - is a lie?!
Not a chance.