Obama/Hillary '08, thoughts...

While in Germany, I have the chance to look at the presidental race from afar and I can tell you that the world seems to abuzz over Obama, so it seems that with or without Clinton, the White House is his to have.

However, I would be stupid to think that the republicans are going to go down easy as a democratic president with the power of a guy like Obama will show the world just how underminded and criminal the last eight years of American politics have been.

The question is, does Hillary pose a greater threat to the candidate than she is an asset? Will she try to steal the show or will she help groom the incoming Senator from Illinois? The questions seem simple enough, but only one thing is for certain: If the democratic leadership and Obama choose Clinton, they will see more voters that come out to vote republican because of this media fed hatred that the Clintons have in the public persona.

Personally, I love Bill and I think he has been nothing but stellar on the campaign as he has no problems in calling things the way that he sees them, which further upsets the right and fuels a fire, which in turn looks negitivly on the Clinton campaign.

The fact is, I am disapointed with Hillary. She had this thing in the bag and was conditioned for this run, groomed for it since moving to New York and running for president, but I think she went against her own judgement and entered the race too early and was a little too cocky about it. She stopped appealing to me fairly early on in her campaign because I think she lost her personality and wasn't having a conversation with America, but moreso a lecture to the American people. She is a part of the old party, ie John Kerry, Al Gore, etc that the Average Joe has an issue seeing eye to eye with. Obama's lack of experience translates into the same thing that real world Americans can see, passion and compassion. Somewhere along the line, Hillary looks like she lost that--and I don't think she really did, but her people made it seem like she did.

The fact is, this was the highest turnout in history and this slapdicks that work for the DNC need to work hard to keep that momentum alive and keep McCain, a guy that has tried so many times to run for the top seed, seem like the tired old man he really is.

There is something so stately about Obama and he carries himself well, with his stories and they way he reacts with the press and the public--its hard not to compare him to the late greats of American Political history. One thing about Hillary that was never really looked at was that she doesn't have any political leaders before her to mimick--she was walking the road herself.

Which is where I am dissapointed and worried. Race and gender have the same issues, but in this campaign in woman versus black man, the race card won. I am worried now that there isn't a gender card, McCain and the Republicans are going to have to get into race if they want plan to win. However, this is a slippery slope and not one that frail old McCain can handle. He would do well to keep selling himself as the new boss, same as the old boss, fear mongering, homeland security, talks don't cure anything but bombs do, propogandizing Republicanism that he is famous for.

I don't think this country is ready for the race discussion and I hope that it doesn't turn into one, especially for international diplomacy, but the republicans are a desperate bunch.

For now, lets enjoy the moment. Either way, Obama should not be concerned with McCain if the game is played fairly, with or without Hillary. My personal choice is Joe Biden for vice-president.