As it now stands neither Democratic Candidate can get enough pledged delegates by the Convention to secure the Nomination. Those supporting Senator Obama have already made abundantly clear that they don't want (or won't tolerate) the "superdelegates" selecting our Nominee (unless they've now flip-flopped). Both remaining Clinton supporters on the site are probably hiding in a corner somewhere or I'd ask them.
Since a bloody floor fight would do little but cause hard feelings among Democrats and provide entertainment for Republicans, there has to be a better way.
I propose the following (flame away, I've got asbestos skivvies)...
- Both Campaigns should tell their most vituperative supporters to Shut the Fuck Up. Fortunately, if their chronological maturity matches their emotional and political maturity this won't cost Democrats any votes until 2012, at least. Doing the reich-wing's work for them and parsing every word in the most negative possible way does our side no credit.
- Both Campaigns should agree to knock off the negative attacks in favor of demonstrating their superiority in going after McCain. The Republicans expect a honeymoon period when McBush can coast along raising money and making a weekly appearance somewhere public while our Candidates claw at each other. They DO NOT expect concerted fire from two directions. Of course, politicians HAVE to brag about how they are better than the other one, but it can be done in a "I'm wonderful this way" mode rather than "He/she has cooties" mode.
- Obama's campaign needs to call Carville's apparent bluff about raising $15,000,000 to re-do Michigan and Florida. Those voters did no wrong, and both Candidates can be seen standing up for the rights of voters, something somebody should do once in a while. Since soft money can be used for this is shouldn't crimp eithers' style too much.
- Agree now that the race between now and Denver is for the top of the ticket, which goes to the Candidate who arrives in Denver with the most elected delegates, if even by a margin of one. This would allow our Convention to concentrate on endorsing the ticket by acclimation, partying and attacking Republicans, which is as it should be. I realize that this means that Clinton is starting out behind, but them's the breaks.
I've seen most of the arguments against a combined ticket, and they mostly come from the immature wing of the Party and those whose actual link to the Democratic Party appears tenuous, at best. Like it or not, Obama and Clinton, between them, cover most of the political spectrum from just to the right of Kucinich to fairly deep into moderate Republicans, as well as eating up the demographic spectrum.
As I have said before I expect the next President to be a one-termer. Once whoever heads our team gets fed up with trying to shovel out all the shit Bush/Cheney leaves behind they can accept the blame for what isn't fixed, give the credit for what is to their very capable Veep and bow out gracefully before 2012.
The course we are on risks inflicting four more years of Bush regime on the Country; my plan gives us a shot at twelve years of competent leadership.