I jokingly held my finger to my lip, “Shhh.” Seriously, who wants to advertise their Americaness these days? This larger-than-life man with a jolly smile threw his hands up in the air, pointed down to me and said to all around, “She’s American!!” He then said boisterously, “Look, we like you, we still love America, we just hate your president.” I tried my hardest to convince him, “He’s not my president.”He and others around me said, “Yes he is.
No doubt former Republican President Dwight D Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during the second world war would have agreed with General Clark. Perhaps this explains why his highly respected daughter,a republican and loyal American Suzie Eisenhower, is now supporting Senator Barack Obama.
This is one of the finest letters I have ever read on the subject of race and equality in the United States. An empowering example of the humanity, greatness and generosity of the human spirit. A missive in which the dreams of 200 + years are expressed in the desire of a people for proper recognition of their equal rights and equality as citizens. A desire to realise Martin Luther King’s vision. A dream sustained only by hope and the promise of a better future. A spirit now re-energised through the potential of a new American political leader.
With those powerful words Donna Brazile stood tall. She sent a signal to every DNC member charged with the responsibility of making a fair decision on Florida and Michigan that if America was to have regard for the basic principles endowed by the country’s founding fathers, respect for and adherence to rules and laws was essential.
Hillary and Bill Clinton need to appreciate that their game of bully boy and bluff is up. It was a good try, but the time to choose the Party nominee has run out. As has any excuses for the Superdelegates to further delay announcing their judgement. Hillary Clinton’s nomination goose is cooked – whether she accepts it or not, is her problem – Senator Obama has much bigger fish to fry and in everybody’s interests he needs to be allowed to get on with the job.
Clinton’s remarks about Bobby Kennedy suggested that staying in the contest left open the opportunity to take advantage of a possible mishap or tragedy. She denies this, as she does everything else, but this clearly says that her inner thoughts are so focused on how to remove this detested nomination obstacle, namely Obama, she has inadvertently allowed the world an unmistakeable and disturbing insight into the workings of her machievellian mind.
In saying she would have difficulty voting for Obama if he is the nominee, Ferraro is sending a coded message on behalf of Clinton to all women. If Obama gets the Democratic nomination then her message decodes to “If its not Hillary – vote for McCain”. In the meantime Clinton will do her best to ensure that Obama is so badly undermined he might not prevail against McCain. This will be done by appearing to be supportive and attempting in the name of her supporters to gain a place within his inner circle.
The scene suggests this is not an exaggeration. The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and power boats bobbing on the Willamette River. More hug the rails of the steel bridge that stretches across the water and crowds are even watching from jetties on the opposite shore.
Clinton’s association with his Presidency would be a disaster for him. It would taint the image of the new administration from the outset. He would not be able to trust her and he would always need to be on his guard. The American people owe the Clintons nothing and it is time the Clinton brand of politics was dispensed with in exchange for honest, open and responsible government. That would be real change.
With the Clinton campaign in tatters following the results in North Carolina and Indiana, it now appears the next machievellian element of the Clinton strategy has been activated. It’s Clinton’s plan B. If they can’t change the rules to steal the nomination, plan B is to get within a heartbeat of the Oval Office. The Vice Presidency.