Since Jimmy Carter's election in 1976 (32 years ago - - how many of you were alive in 1976?), only one democrat has been elected president. (Yes, yes, Gore won, but Gore and the democrats in Congress let them steal it, no? So, let's say "sworn in".)
Only one democratic president sworn in in 32 years. Bill Clinton, twice.
Two stories. 1980, I'm in law school, watching primary returns with Paul from Waterloo, Iowa, born and raised ultra conservative Republican. "I'm a democrat, but I kind of like Howard Baker", I say. Baker, the moderate calm sensible impeach-Nixon midwest Republican senator. "I'm sick of good sports and good losers. I'm for Reagan," replies Paul. My heart broke when Carter lost. Carter, the good, decent, kind, giving, caring, good sport and good loser.
Flash forward ten years. 1990. Junior partner in Ft. Lauderdale, invited to meet and greet fundraiser at Bankers' Club for this southern governor the senior partner meet "at the Vineyard". Bill Clinton, young, good looking, charismatic, beer can in hand, a definite winner. I remember talking to my mom afterwards, and saying, "This guy's a liberal Nixon. He'll do anything to win. No more good sports and good losers." And he won, twice. Like the Dolphins in the 90's, he won ugly, but he won. Peace. Prosperity. More blacks and latins and women and Jews appointed to high office in his two term than in pretty much the rest of US history. Gay couples making out at White House dinners. Growing the pie so everyone gets a bigger slice. Perfect? Nirvana? Paradise? Hell, no. But it's like the song from "Norma Rae" - - "maybe what's good gets a little bit better, and maybe what's bad gets gone".
So when I hear comments about how mean and evil and dirty Hillary fights, and I see how Obama doesn't, I think, he's a good guy, like Carter. But Bill and Hillary, they'll do whatever it takes to win. Whatever it takes. And I don't want my kids to die overseas. I don't want my kids to die because no one's protecting us. I don't want my kids to die due to inadequate health, safety and environmental standards. Or yours, either.
I'm not saying it's 3 a.m. and Obama will let them die. I'm saying I don't think he's tough enough to win, and McCain will screw things up more. I'm saying she's the one that ran that ad (which the Obama camp mocked as corny and ineffective - right), and if he wanted to win, really, truly, desperately, hungrily, he would have.
If I was told I was dieing, and I had to pick a guardian for my kids, I'd probably pick Obama over Hillary. But if some thug was knocking down the front door to my house, I'd rather have Hillary next to me. She'd kick him in the 'nads and scratch out his eyes while Obama called 911. Republican campaign strategists are thugs.