Decisions?

So last night, Barrack Obama reached the magic number to become the party's nominee. HRC on the other hand, held her speech in a basement. Her audience sequestered, they had no elitist cell phone service to get the news that HRC did not win. HRC made no mention of the fact that she did not win.

John McCain even read a few words off of HRC's script, calling the former first lady his friend, and implying that it wasn't the people who refused HRC, but TV's talking heads and the DNC's establishment. After all, the DNC refusing to tailor their rules for the Clintons is a no-no.

Both McCain and Obama said glowing, if not entirely true things about HRC. Would they have done that to a man? HRC started this contest with every advantage. She relied early and often on the former president, with mixed results to be sure. She had her husband's established political machine, contacts and name. She voted to go to war, without reading the report and never apologized for it. She made up a story about being under enemy attack, and told it often. She cried foul constantly. Her every move was a mulligan. Would a man have done that? Would he have been allowed to do that? Would he have been praised for it?

Now most of realized that HRC was born onto second base, and married onto third. We cringed as she tried to steal home. I say that with some snark of course, but also a greater measure of pity. I admit to some envy of the trappings and opportunities that she takes for granted. That said, there is something very wrong about everything being handed to you. Don't misunderstand me, I have also gotten an occasional break, here and there. Some I'd deserved, others, not at all. I've also gotten a few jobs from family members, or their friends, and I was glad to have the work. But it wasn't from only one source, it was a variety. Although it hasn't always made sense, and the tit for tat was nearly never in balance, I always felt flattered by it. But I've also gotten gigs cold, with little more than a resumé and personal wit to pave my way. Having to get things on your own does something else too, it lets you know that you can. After all, once you already have done what you thought you couldn't do, you truly own something in yourself. It's a thing no entitlement program can ever provide.

She really does seem to feel a spot on the ticket is an entitlement. Bill's angry about it, and I'm waiting for the "deeply offended/ troublesome" line from Hillary. Her husband, the source of all of her professional endeavors is publicly saying that she is entitled to the veep spot. Do you suppose the other veeps in history felt their position was a consolation prize? Is that how we want other countries to see it, some sort of certificate of participation? An affirmation of her status as a plus one? The only decision the Clintons have to make is whether to exit stage right, or left. They have no standing to demand anything from anyone. The Clintons waited until their defeat to negotiate their surrender, not a smart move. (It might have been their only move?) Sure, they can be a nuisance, they're really very good at that, but even with the Clintons on your team, they are never on anybody's team but their own.

I do hope we continue to find some kindness for their supporters. They're basically very good people busy with their own families, jobs and so fourth, who happened to get swept away, sucked in, lead astray, by professionals. The Clintons, in their day, were something. Of course that day was yesterday, the Clintons are the past. The Obamas are the future.