Cartoon By: Gary Varvel

Popularity: 4% [?]

What’s Up Hillary Clinton’s Sleeve?

By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

Why won’t Hillary just concede that she has lost and pull out of the race? Why does she persist in keeping her delegates in line for her and not releasing them to Obama? Why does she feign party unity while, in fact, undermining it?

The Clinton’s never do anything without a lot of thinking and planning. There is no benign explanation for her maneuvers. They have several options that they are deliberately keeping open by their increasingly awkward positioning. Here’s what they’re up to:

1. The Obama Stumbles Option

As Hillary says, June is “early” in politics when the convention is not to be held until the end of August, unusually late for a Democratic conclave. And, as Tip O’Neill says “a week is a long time in politics.” So is three months.

Rumors abound about incriminating material on Obama, the potential for misstep is amplified now that he adjusts to a new task of taking on McCain, who knows how many other preachers there are in the closet? Hillary’s skilled force of private detectives, who we once called the secret police, are doubtless diving into garbage dumpsters all over America to come up with whatever they can.

Hillary wants to be there to exploit any mistakes. She will be watching and waiting. Suppose Obama flubs a line on the campaign trail or damaging material emerges from the Rezko prosecution? Hillary will indicate her continued availability as an alternative. Remember that superdelegates can change their minds anytime they want to. Now they are leaving Hillary to back Obama, the winner, but they could easily go the other way. By not releasing her pledged delegates, she remains within striking distance of the nomination if an Obama faux pas leads to an exodus of superdelegates from his camp.

2. Hillary for VP

By remaining a force at the convention, Hillary might be in a position to bail out a faltering Obama campaign by going on the ticket. There is no love lost between the two candidates. Hillary knows that Obama will not choose her voluntarily as his running mate. But if Obama falters, he might just need the shot in the arm Hillary would represent. By remaining in the shadows as a potential threat to wrest away the nomination, she might leverage her position to make Obama put her on the ticket.

She wants to be VP in case Obama loses so she can be positioned for 2012 and in case he wins so she can shoot for the stars in 2016. And, she doesn’t want anyone else to have the job so as not to create a potential rival.

3. The I Told You So Option

By remaining viable and keeping her delegates, Hillary stays in play through the convention. Her aides and associates can be counted on to dump on Obama subtly and, often, anonymously, as he moves forward. If Obama loses the election, and did not take her on his ticket, she can run as the “I told you so” candidate in 2012, much as Ronald Reagan capitalized on Gerald Ford’s defeat in 1976, after Reagan had unsuccessfully sought the nomination, to bolster his credentials in 1980.

4. Paying Off Her Debts

By staying, at least partially, in the game, Hillary can continue to raise money and pay off her debts. And she can hold out a bargaining position to force Obama to do more and more to help her to raise money. Debts to her vendors are one thing. She can always raise funds to pay them off in the future. But the election law makes it illegal for her to pay herself back any sum above $250,000 after the Democratic Convention. Since she has lent her campaign at least $11 million, she wants to get as much of it back as possible before the convention deadline.

Hillary may set her candidacy aside for the moment. But her fortunes will continue to rise and fall inversely with Obama’s. Should he hit a rough patch, Hillary’s numbers are bound to improve, strengthening her bargaining position for funds or for the VP slot or, possibly giving her enough momentum to reopen the contest.

That’s her game.

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Kenyans cheered and danced as they witnessed the opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki signing a power-sharing agreement in Nairobi last February. The new post of Prime Minister was created.

There are now three centers of power — President | Vice President | Prime Minister — and a Turf War has emerged.

Popularity: 15% [?]

US Ambassador, Mr Michael Ranneberger, said Obama’s win would have tremendous impact on Kenya.

Kenyans have welcomed Senator Barack Obama’s nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for the November US presidential elections.

Proud Grandma: Mama Sarah Obama and one of her grandsons, Mr. Wycliffe Omondi read The Standard at her Kogelo village home, Siaya District, Kenya on Thursday. Mama Sarah is the grandmother of Senator Barack Obama. Picture by Titus Munala.

Congratulatory messages continued to pour to The Standard newsroom from Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa and even Moyale, with Kenyans wishing the Illinois senator the ultimate victory in the November election.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga were not left behind. In a statement from Arusha, President Kibaki congratulated Obama, saying the victory was a manifestation of the faith and confidence the Democratic membership had in his leadership.

On his part, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Obama’s victory was a momentous occasion in history.

“Barack Obama’s success will inspire us all to break the shackles of ethnic preoccupations in determining political leadership,” Raila said in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Salim Lone.

Obama’s grandmother, Mama Sarah, 86, led villagers of Alego Kogelo, Siaya, where the senator’s father — Barack Obama Senior — was born, in thanking American voters for no,inating her grandchild.

At the home of Obama’s father, relatives, neighbours and students celebrated the triumph, whose campaign now promises to capture the psyche of Kenya in the run up to the presidential elections.

Obama’s Kenyan Kin Celebrate

   Barack Obama speaks to residents of Nairobi’s Kibera area,
   Kenya, in August 2006.

   Obama and Kenyan Grandmother (Mama Sarah)… Earlier Visit

   Kenya Flag

   Obama and Kenyan Relatives … Earlier Visit

Mama Sarah spent most of on Wednesday morning talking on the telephone to her relatives in America, UK and South Africa about Obama’s victory against Mrs. Hillary Clinton in the hotly contested primaries.

“I will travel to America to witness his swearing in because I know he will win. But I will not stay in the country for long,” she said.

Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, hailed the victory as historic, saying Obama had won the nomination with dignity.

“Indeed, he may make history as the first American president with African roots,” said Kalonzo in Nairobi.

US Ambassador, Mr Michael Ranneberger, said Obama’s win would have tremendous impact on Kenya.

“Over 350,000 Kenyans live in the US, with another 7,000 traveling there annually, which explains the great interest in the race,” Ranneberger said.

Back at Obama’s father’s home in Siaya, residents basked in international glare as CNN led other international media teams in airing to the world live the joy of the village.

   Barack Obama Jr. / Barack Obama Sr.
CNN was live at Alego Kogelo at 10am, showing villagers holding bottles of ‘Senator’ beer to celebrate the Illinois Senator’s win.

Journalists, armed with sophisticated satellite equipment, began arriving at the sleepy village from as early as 6am on Wednesday.

Many installed their equipment at the home as they waited for permission from the family to interview the senator’s grandmother.

Other international media at the home included BBC, Reuters and Al Jazeera.

However, the media had to wait for more than two hours before they could get access to Mama Sarah, who has become the biggest local celebrity.

The number of people claiming to be related to Obama also increased as the news of his victory filtered into Nyanza.

More ‘relatives’ show up

Mr. Tom Ombaka, a Kisumu businessman, said: “Everyone now claims he or she is a cousin of the senator. I have met more than ten people this morning who tell me they are Obama’s blood relations.”

Amid song and dance, Mama Sarah announced she was preparing for an epic journey to America to witness the swearing in ceremony of her grandson as the country’s first black president.

She said: “I will go there to witness the swearing in ceremony, and to pray for him, his family and the people of America for demonstrating unity and love beyond race and colour by picking a black person to lead them.”

She went on: “I love Africa. I am too old now and America is too cold for me to settle. So I will only be visiting once in a while if I am still alive by God’s will.

“I was highly elated when his sister, Rita Auma Obama, in South Africa phoned me to break the news. I said glory be to God,” she said, beaming with joy as she greeted the journalists.

She quipped: “I know what brings you here this early. But don’t worry, feel welcome. I will attend to your needs,” she said as she ushered in visitors to her compound.

“I had prophesied that Obama would win and my dream has partially come true. I am sure he will also win the final contest, God willing. This is my honest and humble prayers,” she said.

She said of her grandson: “His father loved people, development and education. These are the traits that Obama inherited and I can assure you he will go far.”

At the nearby Senator Barack Obama-Kogello Secondary School, which neighbours Mama Sarah’s home, students danced, sang and shouted: “Obama Juu! Obama Juu!”

The school principal, Ms Yunita Obiero, said she announced the good news to the students at assembly in the morning after hearing of Obama’s victory on BBC’s Swahili Service radio.

In Nairobi, ODM congratulated Obama for clinching the Democratic presidential nominations. Secretary-General, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, said the primaries were free and fair and Obama won convincingly.

“His global leadership is cut out for him,” said Nyong’o, who is also the Medical Services minister.

Win-win situation

Lands minister, Mr. James Orengo, said the Obama victory was a win-win situation for Kenya and US. “The US electoral process offers a rare opportunity for men and women of good character. Any Kenyan should, therefore, be able to win nomination locally irrespective of gender, tribe, race or religion,” Orengo said.

Previous Visit To Kenya

In Mombasa, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Organising Secretary, Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa, urged Obama to stick to his manifesto which has earned him wide support and to steer away from US President George W’ Bush’s “confrontational policies”.

“Apart from being close to Africa, we expect Obama to move away from confrontational policies and unite the US and the rest of the world if he finally wins the presidency,” Khalifa said.

ODM-Kenya nominated MP, Ms Shakila Abdalla, said Obama’s victory was an achievement for Kenyans and Africa.

“Because Obama has roots in Kenya, we expect the US and Kenya to forge close ties. We are praying for his victory in the presidential poll,” Shakila said.

And North Eastern Province on Wednesday took delight in Obama’s victory. The predominantly Muslim province came to the limelight during the primaries early this year when Obama’s rival, Mrs Hillary Clinton’s campaign team circulated pictures on the Internet of Obama in Somali traditional attire taken in Wajir.

An elder, Mr Mohammed Hassan Mumin, who was photographed dressing Obama during the senator’s visit to Wajir, said they were happy that Obama was a step away from the presidency.

Mr Maalim Hussein, a teacher at a Quranic school in Garissa, said: “He was a victim of smear campaigns from the Clintons for embracing our attire, but we kept praying for his success and we are celebrating today.”

He added: “We also pray that he becomes the next US president so that he can help our impoverished province and Africa.”

Mr Christopher Njoroge, who lives in Washington, Seattle, said on the telephone: “This is great victory. It is victory for all America that wants real change.”

And from Des Moines, Iowa, Ms Nancy Mwirotsi, a key Obama supporter and mobiliser in a State that gave Obama his first victory, shed tears.

“For me, Obama’s victory is not just about himself and his family, it is about many young Kenyans here who look up to him as their role model,” she said.

Support Senator Obama, visit BarackObama.com

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As Obama gained the nomination of the Democratic party last night, Hillary Clinton scoffed and narcissistically refused to concede.

Obama Acknowledges Crowd in Minnesota

Clinton congratulated Obama — not for winning the nomination, but for running an “extraordinary race.” She recognized Obama and his supporters “for all they accomplished.”

Also, and very ungraciously, Clinton the “wicked witch” told the crowd in New York City: “Because of you, we won together the swing states necessary to get to 270 electoral votes.” “I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected, to be heard and no longer to be invisible.” — translate that to: “Obama, I will crawl underneath your skin until you offer me the Vice-Presidency, so that I may accept it or refuse it and then — shove it in your face, in readiness for 2012 elections — since I have done much damage to your candidacy, and I am sure you will lose to John McCain.”

… or simply: “You must woo me if you want to prevail in November,” after all…”I have the ‘White Female Vote‘ and the ‘Bigot vote‘ in my corner!”

What does she really want?

Answer: To be [Vice-President and Co-President] come hell or high water….in her own terms.

Here are some comments from a cross-section of TV pundits:

“Clearly, she’s trying to position herself, keep her options open.” — NBC’s Tim Russert, on HRC’s speech (MSNBC).

“Well whatever that was, it wasn’t a concession speech.” — Fox News Channel’s Brit Hume

“If I were Barack Obama, if I heard that speech, I would not be very happy. … They are living in parallel universes right now.” — CNN’s Gloria Borger.

“This was a defiant speech, against all the kind of advice that [heavyweights] within the Democratic Party gave her” — Ex-White House adviser David Gergen, on whether he was surprised by Clinton’s speech (CNN).

“She did everything but offer Obama the vice presidency” — GOP strategist Alex Castellanos (CNN).

Clinton’s unwillingness to salute Obama as the presumptive Democratic nominee should be the ‘last straw‘ in my opinion, and should be the prompt he needs to deny her the vice presidential slot.

Winning an election with Hillary and Bill in tow would just be as excruciating as losing with them — to John McCain.

Obama should put his foot down — win or lose. Allowing Hillary to run with him under her own “co-presidency terms,” would thoroughly undermine Obama’s CHANGE campaign.

Hillary Clinton as Obama’s Vice President would be an act of “Terminal Insanity.”

……and if she is thinking of running in 2012 (if McCain wins this year), then if I were Obama, I would challenge her on an independent ticket….as payback for the “malicious damage” she has done to him during this primary.

Hillary Clinton is a “wild political animal,” worse than a desperate and hungry spotted hyena roaming the wilds of East Africa — she is capable of, and is very ready to break Obama’s “political bones,” in order to get what she wants — POWER!

Earlier in Kenner, Louisiana, John McBOMB also gave a speech in which he tried draw a sharp contrast with Bush — a pathetic attempt to insulate himself from the radioactive George McDUMB Bush. McCain praised Clinton but sarcastically referred to Obama as a candidate delivered to the American people by the media and superdelagates…..[MORE]

     Too Much Hug in Minnesota!

VIDEO REFERENCE

Barack Obama’s Victory Speech on June 3, 2008

Hillary Clinton Does Not Concede!

Comedian Jon Stewart’s Take

OBITUARY

Here are seven reasons why Hillary Clinton failed:
A Gannett News Service political analysis

1. A yearning for change: Clinton underestimated Democrats’ yearning for something beyond politics as usual and their disdain for the Iraq war and George W. Bush. Clinton’s 2002 vote to authorize the war became a symbol of status quo, allowing Obama, who had opposed the war, to become the agent of change on an issue that had inflamed the left.

When the nomination fight boiled down to Clinton versus Obama, the 35 years of experience Clinton constantly talked about became a liability as Obama became an exciting and plausible alternative.

“She made an initial strategic blunder by focusing on experience in a Democratic primary,” said Dick Morris, who once advised former President Bill Clinton and has become a harsh critic of Sen. Clinton. “They don’t want experience. They want change and newness. That’s why they’re Democrats.”

2. Hot and cold persona: Clinton could never seem to settle on a political style or persona. In her defense, she may have been hurt by gender bias. While Obama drew praise for his ability to invoke passion in his audiences, emotion was radioactive for Clinton. She was criticized as either too hot or too cold, rarely a transcendent figure, and not authentic. When she became teary-eyed before the New Hampshire primary, defenders saw it as a rare glimpse into her soul while detractors saw it as calculated.

She also hurt herself with false claims of ducking sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia when she was first lady. A Gallup Poll in March found half of Americans doubted her honesty and trustworthiness, twice the percentage that had the same doubts about Obama or presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

3. Race trumped gender: When Democratic voters assessed the breakthrough aspects of having a black man or white woman head their ticket, race ultimately won out over gender. The excitement over Obama’s candidacy and the prospect of the first black nominee of a major political party brought young voters into a process they had ignored in the past. Black women, especially, were torn, but overwhelmingly settled on Obama after he won predominantly white Iowa.

Although Clinton still regularly won among women, the movement of black women and younger women to Obama cut into her strongest base, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

4. Tactical errors: While Clinton focused on winning the big states, Obama racked up a delegate lead by winning most of the smaller states’ primaries and caucuses. Clinton put a lot of her eggs in the Super Tuesday basket and her campaign seemed unprepared fiscally and strategically for the fight to go on past Feb. 5, when more than 20 states voted. But no clear victor emerged that day and there were more states than that left to vote. Clinton had to lend her campaign money, and her campaign manager stepped down amid reports of infighting among her strategists.

Clinton was ill served by other advisers, whose ego clashes or professional blunders often made news. She demoted longtime “chief strategist” Mark Penn after it was revealed he was working to help the government of Colombia get a free trade agreement with the U.S. while Clinton was campaigning against the deal.

5. So close on issues: Obama outflanked Clinton on the left or successfully argued there was little difference between them on everything from ending Bush’s tax cuts for the rich to improving health care to revisiting trade deals like NAFTA. In debates, the two Democratic rivals themselves noted they had similar positions on some issues.

And while both agreed on the need to get out of Iraq, Clinton had to defend her 2002 vote authorizing the use of force in Iraq while Obama repeatedly pointed out his early opposition to the war.

“While I think that her vote on Iraq was a responsible vote, she may have underestimated the degree to which the far left in the Democratic Party is on the ascendancy,” said Gary Bauer, a longtime conservative activist and 2000 Republican presidential candidate.

As voters’ concerns dramatically shifted from the war to the economy, both candidates changed messages. Clinton was able to win some big, late primaries with an economic populist message targeting blue-collar voters, but by then she was behind in delegates. Obama painted her proposal for a 90-day gas-tax holiday as politics-as-usual pandering that wouldn’t solve the energy crisis.

6. One word: Bill: While some voters fond of Bill Clinton’s presidency saw voting for Hillary Clinton as getting two for one, others loathed the thought of the scandal-tainted ex-president back in the White House. A string of Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton presidencies also was an unpleasant thought for some. Then Bill Clinton infused race into the campaign during the crucial South Carolina primary by comparing Obama’s victory to Jesse Jackson’s in 1988. He spent later stages of the campaign hitting small colleges and small towns where he faced less media scrutiny.

7. Obama the phenom: In Obama, the candidate became the message. Obama’s national appeal, backed up by a broader and deeper national campaign strategy than Clinton had, was arguably the most important reason for her loss. As a long campaign progressed, Obama got more comfortable on the stump and in debates, drew massive crowds and evoked “Change” sign-waving, cell phone photo-snapping and swooning from supporters. Her supporters complained that the media, wowed by the phenomenon, didn’t ask Obama tough questions.

Capitalizing on the ease of Internet fundraising, Obama turned the phenom factor into a political gold mine, out-raising Clinton, sometimes at an unprecedented clip of more than $1 million a day.

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