David Sirota: An anti-Clinton for VP

[jgraz]

An anti-Clinton for VP

David Sirota, Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Friday, June 13, 2008


You can't turn on a television or have a conversation about politics without being accosted by speculation about whether Barack Obama will select Hillary Clinton as his running mate. Will he ask her or won't he? This is the extent of today's political debate - personality-focused chatter that goes about as deep as prom-season gossip at a local high school.

The better question is should he or shouldn't he? This is also easier to answer: No, though not for the reasons you might think.

The conventional reason why Clinton shouldn't be on the ticket is a purely political one - the theory goes that because she is so despised by Republicans, her name on the ticket could help John McCain consolidate the GOP base behind his candidacy. Little discussed is the fact that putting Clinton on the ticket could directly undermine the mandate of the party's primary: the rejection not of Hillary Clinton, but of Clintonism itself.

Clinton backers have long said Clintonism is all about moderation, negotiation and smart positioning in the face of Republican extremism. But it really is the politics of capitulation, triangulation and obfuscation in the face of money and power.


<snip>

Some say Hillary Clinton's defeat was the victory of sexism - but Obama faced at least as much racism. No, this resounding defeat goes beyond pernicious isms and beyond one candidate - it is a fist-pounding rejection of a corrupt ideology.


More at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/EDOD118AKP.DTL

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. Sirota's quite full of himself lately ... but he's become part of the problem

He can't even define his ideology anymore in constructive terms. Seriously, silly season has got to end.

[jgraz]

2. Couldn't disagree more. Sirota's been tearing it up.

His new book is awesome.

[jonestonesusa]

8. Sirota's full of himself...

And this has what to do with the ideas in the article?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. Unlike the Clinton's failed policy of triangulation, Sirota is a TRUE liberal!!

Way to go, Dave! Excellent and so spot on!!!!!

[Phred42]

3. Excellent! Good For DS

On it's best day the Clinton Campaign was Corporatist and Rovian right down to it's socks.

THAT is why she lost.

It was hers to lose, and she did.

[MasonJar]

4. A lot of people I talk to (I'm in Kentucky) think that for Obama to win he

needs to choose Clinton. What a ticket that would be...a biracial and a woman!

[jgraz]

5. I doubt Kentuckians have the best advice for "a biracial"

[Vincardog]

6. A lot of people I talk to (I'm in Texas) think that for Obama to win he

needs to move as far and as fast as he can away from Clintonian "centrism" and toward Progressive Populist (Liberal) policies.

[FatDave]

7. People I talk to say the same, but then I hang out with a bunch of damn liberals.

Naturally, I agree with them.

[OneBlueSky]

10. let's think outside the box for VP candidates . . .

how about someone like RFK Jr.? . . . or Bill Moyers? . . . Phil Donahue? . . . in other words, someone outside the corporate/government oligarchy . . .