We are watching chess on a grand scale. Two very big moves in two different games just happened: the endorsement of Obama by Richardson, and the endorsement of McCain by Hillary and Bill Clinton. Here is what they portend.
The first game: Obama vs. Hillary (democratic nomination)
Richardson should have gone for Hillary, given that Bill Clinton gave him major appointments that brought him prestige. Richardson running against Hillary for president was itself traitorous, much less not endorsing her after he dropped out. Richardson said on Countdown that he nearly endorsed Hillary after the superbowl party with Bill Clinton, but something held him back. His endorsement of Obama is the first move of the superdelegates who were absolutely supposed to go Hillary.
The game: The Queen's knight has crossed over to the other side and immediately puts his own king in check. The other undeclared pieces are leaning Obama or they would have sworn their loyalty to the Queen already. They share her side but they aren't fighting for her.
The outcome: Obama takes the nomination
The game with McCain below...
The second game: McCain vs. Obama/Hillary (general election)
Hillary has consistently praised McCain while disparaging Obama. Bill Clinton praised Hillary and McCain as two co-equal candidates who love their country (unlike Obama, who is not equal and too divisive). What if these guys do know the math, and the secret play is for Hillary to position herself as VP under McCain while taking Obama down. It would be billed as a bi-partisan ticket that captures republicans, independents, and the democrats who supported Hillary.
The game: the Queen joins the opposing King and they control the majority of pieces. Together they put her King into check.
The outcome: McCain/Hillary win the election.
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I know it's bizarre to think of Hillary joining McCain as VP, but the precedent is Kerry asking McCain to consider joining him as VP in order to stop Bush. Same idea. This time they want to stop Obama.
I have no other way to explain why Hillary is still in the fight (she HAS to know that the superdelegates don't want to support her), why Hillary is claiming that Obama is unelectable and throwing everything she can at him to prove the point, and why Hillary and Bill Clinton are praising McCain at every opportunity. What does that add up to?