Will Obama need Hillary to savage Palin?

[Beet]

Why should Hillary help Obama?

Because Hillary's best hope for a lasting political legacy is as a powerful Senator and elder statesperson.  If Hillary can position herself as Kingmaker and return to a near-supermajority in the Senate, with a cooperative White House that she helped bring to power (and a strongly Democratic House), she will wield enormous power and influence.

And give up the chance to run again in 2012?

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

Why should Hillary help Obama?

Because Hillary's best hope for a lasting political legacy is as a powerful Senator and elder statesperson.  If Hillary can position herself as Kingmaker and return to a near-supermajority in the Senate, with a cooperative White House that she helped bring to power (and a strongly Democratic House), she will wield enormous power and influence.

And give up the chance to run again in 2012?

She certainly isn't going to sabotage Obama just to run in 2012.  If she becomes an integral part of the Obama effort and Obama wins, Hilllary becomes highly powerful and influential in the Senate (or gains a cabinet position).  Win for her.  If she becomes an integral part of the Obama effort and Obama loses, she will come out looking good in the eyes of the Democrat faithful, helping her chances in 2012.  Either way, she has much to gain by helping Barack.

[Eleden]

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I see "the one" has sent his talking point to his followers.

BTW: Why do you drones all follow the same script? At least mix it up a bit.

You're talking about McCain right?  After all, he's "the one" who asked his supporters to post scripted spam across the Internet. 

http://www.johnmccain.com/ActionCenter/BlogInteract/BlogInteract.aspx

[Everett]

A catfight would be fun to watch. Or mud wrestling. Rawr.

[J. J.]

She certainly isn't going to sabotage Obama just to run in 2012.  If she becomes an integral part of the Obama effort and Obama wins, Hilllary becomes highly powerful and influential in the Senate (or gains a cabinet position).  Win for her.  If she becomes an integral part of the Obama effort and Obama loses, she will come out looking good in the eyes of the Democrat faithful, helping her chances in 2012.  Either way, she has much to gain by helping Barack.

I disagree.  Hillary really has two more solid chances at the Oval Office.  She will lose at least one of those chances if Obama is elected, maybe both.  It is in her best interest not to be too friendly with Obama.  Even in the Senate, she's still a "maybe president" for the next eight years; that is a powerful position.

Many elections have themes.  1976 was the "Clean Government" election.  1980:  The Economy and Security Election.  1988:  The No New Taxes (He's a Liberal) Election.  1992:  The "It's the Economy, Stupid" Election.  2000:  The "Clean Oval Office" Election.

2008 might well be "The Glass Ceiling" Election.  Hillary would look like a major flip-flopper if she tries to hit Palin.

There is the real possibility that, in 2008, the Democratic Party will be paying the price for racial/gender politics.  Hillary is not going to want to be involved in that.

There is no way that Palin is "Dan Quayle in a dress."  In the first 36 hours, her performance has been flawless.

I said it before and I'll say it again:

Obama should have chosen Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

On this point, you are correct.

[Beet]

If Hillary had wanted to sabotage Obama, all she would have had to do was give a Kennedyesque speech at the convention. Keep in mind that even after Kennedy gave that speech, it was widely recognized that Carter doomed his own chances and in 1984 or 1988, Kennedy would have been able to run if he had wanted to.

I think she really cares about what happens over the next 4 years to the country, over her personal chances for 2012. I wasn't fully convinced of this in June but I am now. Besides, in 2012 there is no guarantee she would win the primary, let alone the general. If she sabotages Obama she guarantees no universally affordable health care during this time. Hillary is fully behind Obama, and she's demonstrating it every day.

[J. J.]

If Hillary had wanted to sabotage Obama, all she would have had to do was give a Kennedyesque speech at the convention. Keep in mind that even after Kennedy gave that speech, it was widely recognized that Carter doomed his own chances and in 1984 or 1988, Kennedy would have been able to run if he had wanted to.

Not that directly, that completely kills her chances, but she did not appear on the stage with him, at any point during the convention.  That was Kennedyesque.  Not to mention all the "glass ceiling" comments.