Americans Away From Home

It could happen!

Hillary could easily become the Democrats' favorite heroine.

Here's the playbook:

First-Best: Before March 4

Standing tall in her pantsuit, Hillary stuns the party: Opening her heart, she makes an urgent appeal to unity. She's stepping aside.

Speaking with Barack Obama earlier in the day, they planned their joint campaign with her supporting his candidacy, to take back the White House and reunite Democrats.

Could it happen? Not bloody likely. Might it happen?

"I'll be honest with you: not a chance in this world. But you know, stranger things have happened."
--Stacy Keach

Second-Best: After March 4

Still in her State of Denial, Hillary and Bill work those phones to superdelegates. Suddenly, the fog clears: Hillary realizes she's lost it, but doesn't want to lose it. She steps up for the party, gives a party for Obama, and together, they work towards November. She must have read John McQueen's analysis of her chances in today's Wednesday Wire. (Wednesday Wire article here).

Still Could Pull It Off: Before the Democratic Convention in August

Hillary is the day's quote: She says, "Now is the time for all good women to come to the aid of their party!" Realizing hope's gone, while Obama's keeps growing, she just. gives. up.

But not yet! Not without becoming the toast of the party, rather than the toasted. She stokes her legacy, removes her chapeau from the ring, and strides onto the Denver stage to grateful applause, crediting her good buddy Jesse Jackson for his counsel to "play nice." (Politico article here). 

Call 411, What's That Doomsday Number Again?

Hillary and Obama keep slugging, raising millions and spending them, robbing November's war chest. Floor fight and spectacle, superdelegates divide into well-meaning and arrogant, convention seats filled with two separate colors: Hillary and Barack supporters dress in their colors to split the convention down the literal middle.

How will history look on Hillary Clinton, the first really-almost-got-it woman candidate for U.S. President? Hillary the Heroine? Or Hillary the Spoiler?

It reminds of that old plague most women have faced, one way or another: You're too tenacious, but you never give up, or you let it go, and you're taken as wimpette.

There's a marvelous Japanese expression, Shikata Ganai (Definition here).  It means having the grace to accept the inevitable.

So what will it be, Hillary?

Carole