I figured something like this was happening...

[pseydtonne]

What could explain the sudden upturn for Hillary Clinton? She isn't suddenly more likable, more polite or even less annoying.

It turns out it's exactly what I had expected: die-hard Republicans are voting for Hillary Clinton in states with open primaries. Why? To make sure she's the nominee for the Democrats. Since so many Republicans cannot stand the sight of her, she'd surely lose against McCain in the fall.

Think about it: the Clintons have sworn enemies all over the red states. They wouldn't even flinch to make sure Hillary doesn't get into the White House. If Obama is the Democratic candidate, then the final election would actually be about two guys facing off almost evenly. Both of them can hold intelligent conversations and either one would do a fine job. Republicans would actually have to debate which way they'd vote instead of voting straight ticket.

Oh, and many Democrats cannot stand Hillary either. I know I'd have to think very hard about whether I could vote for her if she got the nomination. I don't agree with McCain on lots of issues but I could definitely stand to to see him on TV three nights a week for four years. I like the intelligence and experience he brings to Congress.

Most of my readers are in states that have already held primaries, so this won't really matter to you. If you live in Pennsylvania or Florida gets to rerun its primary, then you may have a choice. Think hard about this before you vote:

If Hillary gets the Democratic nomination, McCain will be elected president. The GOP has been preparing since 1997 to run someone against another Clinton. They aren't ready to run against Obama... so it would be an actual campaign with an unknown result.

Make the game as fair as it could get: help get Obama nominated. Then it's up to you.

Oh, and dobrovolets? Yeah, I know already.

By the way, it's adaptively's birthday tomorrow so wish her a blunted one. Heh.

Comments

[mangosteen]

Democrats voted for Mitt.
Republicans voted for Hillary.
No real surprise, there.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Huh, you really think there are more Hillary-haters in the South than closet racists? Could be, but I don't think I'd be willing to bet on it.

If Hillary is up against McCain, she'll have to fight her husband's legacy.
If Obama is up against McCain, he'll have to fight against the fact that McCain has been in Congress for 26 years to his 4.

Luckily, McCain has switched from pro-choice to pro-life, from pro-immigrant to anti-immigrant, and from anti-war to pro-war. He's made enough switches in the last five years that he'll be an easy target.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

I suspect those racists would rather see a Hillary-McCain race, because in their eyes the country is full of [expletive]-lovers and they don't want to take the risk they'll put an [expletive] in the White House.

[lightcastle.livejournal.com]

The only reasons we are seeing more Hilary-bile is that it remains easier to be openly misogynistic in this society than to be openly racist. We'll see more and more dog-whistle racist shots at Obama if he wins.

Remember, the Press wants McCain to win and will do what they did with Bush and Gore - lie about both in order to favour the one they want.

[lightcastle.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think both Obama and Clinton are decent, and neither as good as I would like. I think you should also keep in mind that Repubs want the Democratic race to go on longer because it is turning ugly, and that helps them. (Also pushes the narratives of "Democrats are spineless, divided in-fighters who fuck everything up.)

I must take exception to this bit, though.

If Obama is the Democratic candidate, then the final election would actually be about two guys facing off almost evenly. Both of them can hold intelligent conversations and either one would do a fine job. Republicans would actually have to debate which way they'd vote instead of voting straight ticket.

It will not be even, the press will savage Obama and not tell the truth about McCain. They will savage him somewhat less than Clinton since she is a woman (safer than being openly racist) and they have years of backstory to work with on her, but make no mistake that this will not be "even" in any way.

Have you seen McCain debate things? A "fine job"? Are you serious? You think Bush has done a fine job? (McCain is in many ways more right wing than Bush is.)

[pseydtonne.livejournal.com]

I guess the 2008 version of McCain hasn't been as good as previous versions. He used to be a lot of fun to listen to and you knew he'd take the jokes well.

The most recent I liked was watching him slam Romney in a debate when Romney wasn't willing to call anything torture. I loved listening to McCain spring into action. Obviously it's a loaded gig because you pick waterboarding. McCain and anybody else and bam! He's gonna unload seven years of Hanoi Hilton on a draft dodger.

Frankly, I'm amazed McCain has as much of his shit together as he does at 75. I realize McCain wants to continue the war, the biggest reason I won't be voting for him. However he's not as annoyingly unscrupulous as W, which is a start.

He's human, although that also means he can flip out at people. It'd be interesting to see him negotiate something ans suddenly get another world leader in a screaming match. Yeah, maybe that wouldn't be so hot.

[lightcastle.livejournal.com]

I guess the 2008 version of McCain hasn't been as good as previous versions.

If one believes he once really was a maverick and a moderate, then yes - his support for torture, his pushing for massive reduction of reproductive rights, and his flip-flopping on campaign finance do kind of look bad.

However he's not as annoyingly unscrupulous as W, which is a start.

I think he's worse. W has trouble seeing anything in terms other than what is immediately good for him and thinks the world is supposed to work that way. McCain consciously knows what he's betraying.

The flipping out on people... yeah, when Generals in the Armed Forces express worry that he's likely to flip out and issue orders in the heat of the moment they would regret, that's not reassuring.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

adaptively's birthday tomorrow

Happy birthday yourself. Shortly. I figured I'd wish it early 'cause otherwise you'll probably post and then think people were just doing it because you posted.