I have posted, here and there, my opinion that there is a good case to be made for a Unity ticket consisting of our two Democratic finalists, in one order or another.
I Received some polite replies, pro and con, and a slew of replies expressing horror at the suggestion.
Some voiced their certainty that Obama would never do it in a zillion years (based on the commenters' own opinion/wish, and their close relationship with Obama of nearly zero years.)
Others mocked my naivete', to think Hillary would dismount her BitchRocket long enough to laugh at an idea she surelydespised. These opinions came from peoople who have been close to Sen. Clinton and privy to her thinking for, um, never.
This idea was raised again on the CBS Early Show, during an appearance by Sen. Clinton. Her reply?
"That may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."
Obama was asked about this idea again, and he did not reject it out of hand:
"We are just focused on winning the nomination. That is my focus. I respect Sen. Clinton. She has been a tenacious opponent. It is premature to talk about a joint ticket."
He could surely have done a polite job of knocking this idea right down, but he did not!
Such a move has been seen before, between intra-party rivals. Most recently, Ron Reagan picked GhW Bush, despite Bush's harsh (and correct) criticism of Reagan's "voodoo economics". A few years back, Jack Kennedy selected Lyndon Johnson, despite their true, well documented, lack of mutual affection. These candidates did this because they they understood that while politics shouldn't embrace bestiality (like a Dem/Bloomberg ticket), it can make for, as they say, strange bedfellows - to win elections!
While each side this year has accused the other of "GOP tactics" taken from "Rove's playbook", the fact is that a dispassionate look at the two Dem candidates' careers will show each in their own way to be progressive. I think their respective "GOP tactics" are just a way to reach out to indie Republicans. Their lifetime actions how their true stripes.
When the shrieking dies down, and the wig fires are extinguished, a Democratic Unity Ticket could provide our nation with two historic office holders, whose respective platforms are 95% in accord. This would also neutralize GOP talk about our candidate from a "torn and fractious Democratic party" which cannot find accord within itself, much less with the American people.