NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > An Obama loss would be a win for the Clintons -- Would make a 2016 run for Hillary much more likely, say insiders

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

An Obama loss would be a win for the Clintons -- Would make a 2016 run for Hillary much more likely, say insiders

Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2012 at 08:10 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

36 Comments

RSS

Archives

Hillary Clinton & President Obama

Bill Clinton’s introduction of Barack Obama will remind Americans of how much better off they were 12 years ago, but will it be enough?

I have come through two wars, the Bush economy and the stutter step recovery during the first Obama term.

But as he faces into the last election of his life, Barack Obama ironically, has come to depend on the man he once dismissed as a showboat and who his supporters derided as essentially a racist.

Clinton is far from both and he has his own political calculation to figure out when he gets up on stage at Charlotte.

His wife Hillary will take a break from politics after this administration but the pressure will immediately build for 2016 regardless of whether Obama is re-elected or not.

In fact, it would be better for Hillary’s calculus if Obama was defeated and she faced a Republican incumbent.

Eight years of Obama would have the country ready for a change and given the fickle nature of politics these days, 12 years of Democrats in the White House would be a stretch.

In addition, the likely republican field for 2016 looks a lot stronger than this year’s lame list of has beens and never weres.

Governors Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell and VP candidate Paul Ryan all look formidable at this stage anyway.

This will all be obvious to Bill Clinton when he takes to the podium, but he will fly the flag high for Obama in the hopes that his own legacy will be burnished further by riding to the rescue.

But make no bones about it, there will be no tears shed in the Clinton household if Obama comes a cropper and fails to win re-election.

In the ever-evolving political landscape, which the Clinton’s inherit, an Obama loss gives them the better opportunity to have Hillary back in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by 2016.

There will be a lot of water under the bridge by then, but it is nonetheless a fascinating exercise in the power matrix as we watch Clinton deliver the Obama stem-winder.

Laughed at, dismissed, derided as out of touch, the Big Dog is back patrolling the porch and this time his bark and bite are suddenly very important again.

A happy day for the Clintons in Charlotte.

E-mail

36 comments

Next Previous Page 2 of 3 pages

seanomelb | Sep 05, 2012, 06:30 PM EDT

PaulPaulPaul the people of Egypt voted in a democratic election for the government of their choice. The US and other powers now find it difficult to have "compliant" government s as gunboat diplomacy is almost a thing of the past.I find your post arrogant. The Egyptian people will have the government they want not the government you wish them to have.

Report abuse

paulpaulpaul | Sep 05, 2012, 06:06 PM EDT

If Chuck Norris wants Clinton to run, she won't be able to say no.

Report abuse

alisaann | Sep 05, 2012, 05:03 PM EDT

hillary has pretty much said, she will NOT run....would people like for her to run?....sure...but, it's doubtful that she will....only time will tell. alisa

Report abuse

pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 03:02 PM EDT

roryobrien, wise man.

Report abuse

phinsman | Sep 05, 2012, 02:59 PM EDT

I have never been a supporter of Hillary Clinton. She voted yes for the invasion of Iraq after September 11th, which was, in my opinion, one of the worst mistakes the US has made. Iraq had nothing to do with September 11th, nor did they have weapons of mass destruction, and thousands and thousands of people have lost their lives due to that invasion and there is very low likelihood that we can help Iraq... they don't share the same philosophy that we have in the United States. Iraq is very sexist, promotes only one religion and doesn't encourage much democracy.

Report abuse

paulpaulpaul | Sep 05, 2012, 02:31 PM EDT

What, as Secretary of State did Clinton achieve? All I know is that she allowed the Brotherhood to take a firm hold in North-East Africa, the same Brotherhood that has less than benevolent intentions towards the State of Israel. And the mixed signals out of D.C indicate a Cabinet that talks through both sides of the mouth regarding how to deal with Israeli fears about Iran. At least with Condi Rice, the Administration``s views were well thought out and well presented. Clinton? D Minus.

Report abuse

roryobrien | Sep 05, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT

Think of this?? That little thought has gone into this article, it's nothing but a Republican scam designed to divert attention from Robme's real agenda, and I am genuinely disappointed to this type of useless garbage in an Irish journal. Mr Roberts clearly has an agenda, however, and I suspect it may be a Catholic-Opus Dei- Revivalist one. Caveat Lector

Report abuse

Murph46 | Sep 05, 2012, 01:50 PM EDT

Well Eschetic-Have it your way,another 4 years of failed policy ,we will have 50,000,000 unemployed,40 Trillion $ debt and truly be the third world nation your candidate wants us to be.

Report abuse

acmelvin | Sep 05, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

Check out the new documentary "Obama's America 2016" It is a must see and is showing at local theaters all around the country.

Report abuse

Eschetic | Sep 05, 2012, 12:21 PM EDT

This may be the best "semi-reasonable" Republican "analysis" I've seen yet in their efforts to divide and conquer...but that doesn't make it remotely realistic. In the extremely unlikely event the President WERE to lose, the disastrous effect of the Romney/Ryan program of return to all the discredited Bush ideas on the economy and foreign policy would, indeed make a return to LONG TERM Democratic realignment almost inevitable, but by then Hillary will be four years older and the vindicated President still a vigorous potential candidate in the prime of his electoral life (many of us who supported Hillary in 2008 anticipated an Obama Presidency in 2016!). The Clintons themselves are vocal in not wanting the country to have to suffer the damage of a return to the bad old days for the sake of *anyone's* agenda - and as to the potential field against Hillary or Biden (vastly under-rated foreign policy expertise due to his intentionally folksy persona - expect him to destroy "foot in mouth Ryan" in the VP Debates) forget Tea party darling Chris Christie! His chances of re-election in New Jersey are less than the President's - despite the millions he's been spending for the last TWO MONTHS on distorted ads touting his abysmal record as New Jersey Governor, balancing his budgets on the backs of New Jersey STUDENTS and working families.

Report abuse

irishfree1916 | Sep 05, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT

I was very unhappy when Mrs Clinton lost to Obama! Bill Clinton did a lot for Ireland! I am going to vote for Obama and I have been canceling out any anti Obama e-mails I get! I hope Mrs Clinton runs and wins in 2016, the 100th year since 1916. Remember this is an Irish Network! Jerry O'Keefe Anaheim, Calif

Report abuse

wjb1tex | Sep 05, 2012, 11:47 AM EDT

If Obama loses I don't believe for a minute he would run in 2016. I think he really is looking forward to being an ex President and enjoying the prstiege that goes along with it. Without all the pressure. I don't think he really likes being under such pressure every day. Of course he would rather be an ex after eight years. The only ones I can think of who really looked like they enjoyed being President every day are Reagan and Clinton.

Report abuse

pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 11:26 AM EDT

CitizenWhy, realpolitik would dictate such a concern. They assume that Robme will be finished in November and the Teabaggers will control the RNC in 2016.

Report abuse

CitizenWhy | Sep 05, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

The Clintons are genuinely scared at the prospect of a Romney-Ryan victory.

Report abuse

pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 10:57 AM EDT

judiron, what an astute comment. I missed that one entirely. Of course, you are correct. If President Obama, God Forbid, somehow had the election stolen from him (probably those thugs on the Supreme Court who are well-versed in the practice), he would still be the beloved leader of the Democratic Party. No question that there would be a rematch in 2016 and President Obama would have another go at Robme.

Report abuse

Next Previous Page 2 of 3 pages