The DISunity ticket

In 2004, John Kerry was urged and finally agreed to add second place finisher John Edwards to the ticket.  For whatever you might say about that decision, it was made possible because Edwards had been gracious to the presumptive frontrunner throughout the campaign.

Which leads us to an important rule in picking a vice presidential running mate:  Don't pick someone that has repeatedly trashed you recently.

So, to me, any notion of an Obama-Clinton ticket died many moons ago.  With bitter moments like this:

And glib mocking like this:

And promoting the Republican opponent's main talking point like this:

And wallowing in smears like this:

And like this:

And like this:

Sure, Clinton can now withdraw and support Obama strongly.  Sure, she can succesfully unify the party by leaving the race (gracefully) and doing everything she can to get her supporters behind Obama.  But be on the tickets?  Are you kidding me?

These are video clips that will be played back against Obama by the GOP regardless of what happens next, make no mistake about it.  One of the most important figures in his own party trashed him and smeared him -- that's political gold.  But, it would be political platinum if the important Democratic figure in all these video clips trashing and smearing Obama was also his running mate.

That's an odd way to show unity in a ticket.  In fact, let's just call it what it would really be:  a ticket that highlighted the disunity in the party, the disunity wrought by Hillary Clinton.

•  In case anyone had forgotten...

  ... just a little trip down kitchen sink lane.

  by VirginiaDem on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:13:03 AM PDT

  •  that ohio clip alone would sink such a ticket

    Bill can be secretary of shut the fuck up

    Hillary can be czar of help or get out of the way

    by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:15:24 AM PDT

    •  Just remember that

      with Hillary, you get the people who Hillary surrounds herself with and they are TOXIC.

      by pikkel on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:17:56 AM PDT

      •  wouldn't want M, Penn n' crew for dog catchers nt

        by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:18:44 AM PDT

      •  But Obama would be the top dog

        and the VP only has as much power as the President allows.

        Although you're right. Bill might start dissing an Obama administration in the media from 'Day One' should he Hill be VP. And can we trust them?

        by Zebras on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:21:17 AM PDT

        •  List of reasons:

          1. Electral Poison

          2. Chance of betrayal: 100%

          3. Help in pushing progressive agenda: only in as much as it would benefit the clintons

          4. Chance of scandal: 100%

          by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:23:27 AM PDT

    •  You people just don't understand ;^)

      The basic assumption by the Clinton campaign has been that Sen. Obama is the one who has to be gracious, if he wants second place on Sen. Clinton's ticket.

      by JTML on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:20:47 AM PDT

      •  I know! I mean, that black fellow... so up

        tight

        ;0)

        by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:22:12 AM PDT

•  hear hear! (nt)

  by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:14:02 AM PDT

•  McCain already started using the "CinC threshold"

  talking point in his ads a few months ago. Things will get even more interesting in the fall when they start using the video footage you noted above.

  by haruki on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:23:33 AM PDT

  •  maybe JMac will adopt other clinton strategies

    he'll still be running for president by this time next year

    by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:27:19 AM PDT

  •  I think we can make use of this...

    With Obama saying how the Republicans have to recycle Democratic ideas in their ads now.  They just have no creative and fresh ideas of their own.  They have to have Senator Clinton speak for them.

    If that storyline catches on, it might blunt any damage from seeing President Clinton singing McCain's praises in 2004's convention, or this year's viewing montage of Senator Clinton slapping Obama around.

    But I'd rather have a nominee in Obama who has to deal with video clips of Clinton attacking him than video clips of Bosnian sniper fire were the nominee to be Clinton.  So, I think we came out on the better end of the deal, even now with all of the Clintons' crap.

    by BasharH on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:48:18 AM PDT

•  Well put!

  And thoroughly illustrated.

  I know a lot of her supporters would be mollified by such an action, but I truly believe that her own rhetoric and disastrous campaign strategy have proven her unfit for the role, point blank. Many kept saying she had a campaign effort unworthy of the candidate, but that's just ridiculous- her campaign was exactly worthy of her, seeing as how she put it together and executed it. Her more recent race-baiting has shown us all exactly what kind of Dixie- I mean Democrat she really is.

  As it is, I'll be very interested to see what happens to her in NYC come re-election time. Do. Not Want.

  by lovelyivy on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:24:16 AM PDT

  •  Are you guys planning a primary challenger?

    Are you all planning to run a primary challenger against her? Any names being bandied about? I think she needs it and I think New York state needs it. She's gotten so arrogant that I can't imagine she can go back to being "just" a senator.

    A word after a word after a word is power. -- Margaret Atwood

    by tmo on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:36:50 AM PDT

•  Obama's a mensche

  but I doubt if he can stand her by this point. It would be tantamount to a Black man condoning racism.

  by anotherCt Dem on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:25:14 AM PDT

  •  it's just not sensible

    not in terms of policy, electability or governability

    by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:26:38 AM PDT

    •  but he's already hinting that he's gonna

      pay off her debt. Ick. Sometimes I think he's too nice and that bothers me.

      by charlestown dem on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:34:43 AM PDT

      •  I've said it before, I'll say it again

        Chelsea Clinton can just get a smaller yacht

        by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:35:26 AM PDT

      •  He's not paying it off...

        He can't according to campaign finance law.  He can hold joint fundies with her and send out letters to his supporters to ask for their help (but not mandating it) but he can't use his funds to pay her tab.  Anyways, I'm pretty sure he would see it how we all see it -- as a bribe.

        But better to relent on the fundraising thing than to consider her for the VP slot.

        by BasharH on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:50:42 AM PDT

•  The republicans would LOVE for Clinton to be on

  the ticket.

  It plays on her biggest negative:
  "She only cares about power. She immediately flip flopped on Obama's ability to be commander-in-chief once it was in her own self interest."

  It also undermines his biggest strength:
  "He says he want to change Washington, but Clinton is the personification of Washington."

  Plus many, many additional issues

  by FrostyKotex on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:27:15 AM PDT

  •  I can think of 30 better running mates for Obama

    easily

    by Mr Bula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:31:17 AM PDT

    •  Only 30? n/t

      by FrostyKotex on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:12:06 AM PDT

•  Bernstein on CNN said this a.m. that

  "people closest to her" believe that she wants the veep slot. I would be so disappointed if Obama caved to that. She brings nothing to the ticket while still managing to energize the GOP base to vote against her (forget their voting For Obama now), not to mention that I wouldn't put it past the Clintons to conveniently ensure something happens to Obama -- thereby giving Hillary the presidency. And no, I'm not nuts. I truly believe she can't be anywhere near the presidency lest she find a way to grab it in the end, at whatever cost. That's who I believe the Clintons are.

  by charlestown dem on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:33:37 AM PDT

  •  And for every example you have...

    Of a Clinton surrogate saying this, Senator Kennedy has already nixed the idea -- thank goodness.

    by BasharH on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:45:36 AM PDT

•  She was never a good pick

  Even before it got ugly I didn't think she was a good choice.  She's just not VP material.  Furthermore, I think her insider status, plus her negative baggage always rendered her a net negative for Obama's ticket.  Of course, the ugly turn the campaign has taken just exacerbates this, but she was never a realistic choice.

  by Triscula on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:37:07 AM PDT

•  THANK YOU! THANK YOU! GREAT DIARY!

  For anyone who doubts that Clinton might actually WANT to be VP, two words:
  JFK. LBJ.

  Instead of bribing Hillary to pretend to not undermine Obama's presidential campaign, I sincerely hope that the Obama campaign will use some of my hard-earned money to hire the best private protection that is available in this country.

  The Bush Administration's Secret Service is, and I am completely serious, the last organization that should be entrusted with Obama's safety.

  http://www.nytimes.com/...

  by obiterdictum on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:08:43 AM PDT