Posted on 10/01/2005 6:22:32 PM PDT by FairOpinion
FOR countless Democrats around America, the announcement last week of a new initiative linking Senator Hillary Clinton to one of her party’s most appealing new stars amounted to a match made in political heaven.
Not since President George W Bush crushed the Democratic party’s hopes in last November’s election have two senators with perhaps the strongest chances of beating Republican rivals to the White House formed such an intriguing alliance.
Clinton has been linked with Senator Barack Obama, the charismatic black Democrat from Illinois, in a healthcare initiative that unites two formidable and ambitious politicians who have their eyes on making US presidential history.
The details of the senators’ health proposals were in danger of being swamped last week by renewed speculation about how long America might have to wait for either its first woman or first black president.
“This is a powerful partnership,” noted Norman Ornstein, a political specialist at the American Enterprise Institute, one of Washington’s most influential think tanks.
Obama’s emergence as a popular national figure has helped fuel optimism in Democratic ranks that the Republicans will not recover from a recent series of crushing setbacks — including widespread criticisms of the government’s hurricane-relief actions, the criminal indictment of one of the party’s leaders on Capitol Hill and Bush’s continuing problems over Iraq.
Ever since he burst onto the political scene with a spellbinding speech to the Democratic convention last year, Obama, the 44-year-old son of a black Kenyan father and white American mother, has been tipped for the highest office. His autobiography, Dreams from My Father, was on bestseller lists for more than a year.
He comfortably won his 2004 Illinois Senate race but, taking a leaf from Clinton’s book, adopted a low profile as a novice senator during his early months in Washington. He spent most of his time cultivating Illinois contacts and working quietly in a junior role on several Senate committees.
All that changed when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Appalled by what he described as America’s “historical indifference” to the plight of poor black people, Obama accused government planners of being “detached from the realities of inner-city life in New Orleans”, saying the Bush administration “simply doesn’t recognise what’s happening in large parts of the country”.
On one visit to affected areas he appeared at a press conference given by former presidents George Bush Sr and Bill Clinton, and was spotted chatting to Hillary.
Although the two had often crossed paths in Senate corridors, Obama had previously made clear to reporters that he was not seeking the kind of leadership role Clinton now fills in her party.
“What Senator Clinton did when she first came in was what any person would do when they come into a new environment, that is listen and learn before you speak and you act,” Obama recently told Time magazine. “I have tried to follow that same wisdom.”
Yet Katrina inspired a change of heart and within days Obama was giving his first nationally televised interviews. A tall, glamorous figure with a mesmerising speaking style, he has since popped up in public frequently and joined Clinton in voting against John Roberts as Bush’s choice for the new chief justice of the US Supreme Court.
For Clinton, Obama’s emergence represents both an opportunity and a potential longer-term threat. For much of the past five years she has been building bridges to the communities she needs for a successful White House run in 2008.
She has devoted herself to security issues and forged a strong relationship with the military. She has softened her stance on abortion, emphasising the human agonies involved, and worked hard to shed her reputation as a bruising ideologue by co-operating with Republican senators on a range of issues. She has backed Bush on keeping US troops in Iraq.
Yet Obama’s support — and his presumed influence with blacks and other poor immigrant communities — could be critical to Clinton’s success. Not the least of Senator John Kerry’s problems against Bush last year was his failure to mobilise black voters who traditionally support the Democrats.
So it was not just doctors’ eyebrows that were raised when Clinton and Obama announced last week they were working together to find a solution to America’s medical malpractice crisis.
So many lawsuits are filed against doctors that the cost of malpractice insurance is driving many of them out of business.
Ornstein noted that the announcement was likely to fan speculation about Obama’s vice-presidential prospects. “He’s got national candidacy written all over him,” he said.
Few Democrats believe America is ready for a presidential ticket comprising a woman with a black running mate — at least not in 2008. “That’s too much history all at once,” one party strategist said.
Yet there are signs that Obama is positioning himself to inherit Clinton’s mantle as the next great Democratic presidential hope should the New York senator slip in her Senate re-election campaign next year — or otherwise fall from the reckoning.
When Katrina struck, Obama was out of the country on his first foreign trip as a senator to inspect disarmament projects in Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. On his way home he passed through London and paid a brief visit to No 10 and a meeting with Tony Blair.
“They let me sit in Winston Churchill’s reading chair,” he proudly told reporters later. One day visitors may be told it was also the chair used by President Obama.
Her Thighness and his Suitness can't pull it off. This is just a trial balloon for the DNC. I wonder often if Powell still isn't also in play for '08 - but am beleaguered that he could go either party!.
America elects Governors. Rick Perry (who irritates us as W did as we have to actually LIVE with them here in Austin, even though we support them) is, I believe, about to bust out once the DeLay thing gets settled.
Then again, Schwartzenegger could roar up next year.
I love Tancredo, but he's probably VP material at best.
Jeb can't do anything until the Bush-hate goes away: that'll never happen.
Rudy has a great shot, particularly if Condi saddles up with him.
So, my call is either Perry/Condi or Rudy/Condi '08.
A Dream Ticket--for the Republicans.
I suspect voter will fail to remember his correct name and call him Barack Osama. Voters might refuse to vote for Obama because he reminds them of Osama bin Laudin.
That's what Ted Kennedy called him.
I'm not seeing how a person who has never ran for public office before is a good choice for the national ticket.
Rice is real popular here when it comes to this kind of talk, and I have no idea why (well, I do, though it might be impolite to say). Nobody knows her views, how sound her political judgment is, or really anything at all that would merit this storm of support. Hell, the fact that she's never been married ought to be a big clue that she's not exactly a whiz at selling herself.
And yet a hefty contingent of freepers are ready to anoint this cipher.
Is what I said. Doubt it will happen, but you can't count him out.
People have to ask do we really want same old same old. It is time for new people to run for president.
Conservatives know we're going up against the voodoo queen herself this time around, and now is no time to be experimental with our primaries.
I have a nagging feeling Powell is up for grabs, and if it winds up Hill/Powell, then nothing short of Rudy/Rice can shut that down.
Yes, you can count him out. Think about it...
You do know they'd have to amend the Constitution to allow Schwarzenegger to run for President?
Simply Obamanible.
"Simply Obamanible."
LOL.
And it took over 100 posts, before someone came up with this little gem. ;)
What is it w? ILLinois and socialists, both are from there. The last time a white woman and a black man were left to do a job, OJ went free.
If she picks the joker with the terrorist sounding name, she'd be guaranteed her home state of Illinois. And then she'd get New Yawk...that's two solid "blue" states she could win so far...
Whats your point. The democrats could run Osama Bin Laden, and Saddam Insane and win NY and Illnois. This ticket really doesn't scare me much (Clintoon and Obama), because it really doesn't capture the portion of the voters that voted for Bush. Just my humble opinion, but this proposed ticket scares the swing voters out there....
sure
Hillery will likely have an old Iowa congressman by herself the entire trip through Iowa to ensure support. Otherwise, she couldn't carry the state during the runoffs.
The thing that SHOULD scare you is a McCain running as an Independent. This guys crazy and a first-class pr_ck to boot. He'd do it just to p_ss-off Senate conservatives.
She would also benefit with his additional name association to other great world class leaders such as President Chiluba, President Kabila, President Bizimungu and President Obasanjo ;-)
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