The Phantom Campaign

The fragile House of Cards that was Hillary Clinton's campaign is really starting to crumble now.

I say was in such bright bold, red letters because in every aspect except the media desiring a dramatic narrative, or a civil war-inducing superdelegate coup, the Democratic race is over.

The reason her campaign is really crumbling now is because of the rash of, er, um...lies that are being uncovered lately about statements she has made, in some cases multiple times, in the past.

The obvious one is the Bosnia deal. I would think everyone would know by now, but with that overwhelming need for a narrative, this story is inexplicably getting swept under the rug. For the uninitiated, Hillary has told a story at least 4 times on record stating that back in 1996 in Bosnia, she was on a diplomatic trip, and had to land under sniper fire and "run to their vehicles for cover". She said the greeting ceremony that was supposed to be held on the runway was canceled, and they were all in mortal danger.

Problem is, that's utter bull. I could see this type of thing flying if there wasn't, say, video evidence to the contrary, which, in the YouTube age, is readily available to anyone who wants to see it. There were cameras everywhere, a CBS news team on the flight with Clinton as this all supposedly unfolded. There was a ceremony, there wasn't any sniper fire, and no one was in mortal danger.

Why she would choose to blatantly and utterly lie over something so insignificant and easily verifiable, I don't know. But the fact remains is that she did, and it is a glaring mark on her credibility.

There are other things that have come to light after the release of her schedules as well, such as, she never really seemed to play a major role in any initiative that had any legs, and actually was in favor of NAFTA, after blustering all over every manufacturing state in the country that she was against it and would try to reform it.

This would have been fine if she said something like, 'times have changed, it needs a re-do', but no, opposed from the start, even though there's really no point in staking such a claim. Pattern?

There is a great story at the link below about an initiative called 'SCHIP', that dealt with healthcare for children, that apparently was opposed by the Clinton White House, which Hillary now takes credit for on the trail. Full credit to Boston.com for the story.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/14/clinton_role_in_health_program_disputed/

All of the problems with her credibility in the past, coupled with this information, as well as Barack Obama's dominant and impossible-to-overcome delegate and popular vote lead, polls showing she will be stomped in states Obama would not, and a shortfall of cash, Hillary Clinton is simply running on fumes.

And the two entities that can stop this phantom campaign are two I mentioned up at the top of this piece.

First, the media needs to stop pretending Hillary Clinton isn't the Mike Huckabee of the left. Period. An interesting story of the battle between Hillary and Obama isn't worth ripping the Democrats in two and handing John McCain a huge advantage in the fall. Or maybe, for their owners, and their interests, it is. Not the time to go into corporate media controls here, but it is a valid argument, and McCain has been getting an easier rub from the media than either of the Democrats.

Second, the superdelegates and elders of the Democratic Party, the Al Gores, John Edwards-type figures really need to step up and call this race now, and make it clear the coup-by-delegate strategy isn't going to fly come Denver. Bill Richardson took the first step of this tier when he came out for Obama last weekend, being called a Judas in the process. It took guts to go against the Clintons, but it showed the rest of the superdelegates and everyone else involved in the process that it can, and should be done, and done quickly, before the damage she has already done becomes irrevocable.

John Edwards, An Obituary

Oh John Edwards, so much promise, so much heart, and so many sound and defined policies. And yet, gone so soon...

Edwards is a man who is perfect for the Presidency. He grew up with almost nothing, so he remembers how a majority of people in the US now live. He's self-made, and he has the right priorities, such as Universal Healthcare programs, fighting a war on poverty and taking on corporate interests in Washington. Great, right? All good things, and issues people can get behind and feel good about getting behind.

The only problem is, that John Edwards never had a hope in hell of winning this nomination.

When he started his campaign, the widely held belief was that Hillary Clinton was the de-facto nominee, even before the process started. Edwards was going to position himself as a new-age candidate, and Hillary as someone of the old guard, a Washington insider. And that is exactly what he did.

Only problem is that there was someone else who blazed in and took up that mantle. Pretty plainly, it was Barack Obama that knocked Edwards out, and nothing more.

Edwards had great goals, great policies, he was from the South, which is always a good thing for a Democratic nominee, and he was well-liked and respected by his colleagues and the voters. But Barack just had so much more right now that the country is craving.

Edwards' other problem was that he was beginning to become an also-ran, running and losing the nomination in '04 to Kerry, then losing the general election as the VP nominee, and now running in a deep third place this cycle. He started to take on the air of someone that had a great vision, but just couldn't close the deal.

I think John Edwards would make a fantastic President, and he still may one day, but unfortunately, he was running in the wrong year. Against two powerful, groundbreaking candidates, he barely got a sniff, and he deserved so much more.

From launching his campaign in the 9th Ward in New Orleans, to ending it in the very same place, then walking off to the background to build a house for Habitat for Humanity, John Edwards was a good man, and a good candidate, but just came along at the wrong time, and miscalculated his chances this time around.

Give it a decade, maybe a little more. Edwards can do more work for the poor, the disaffected, make a difference outside the political process, as Al Gore has done. Love Al or hate him, he has brought attention onto Climate Change, and that is a plus. Edwards can do the same, he can make the change he so desperately wanted to by entering the race in the first place, then come back around when the Clintons, the Obamas, even the Gores of the landscape have passed, and win himself the position he so richly deserves.