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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

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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.

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36 Comments

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Springfield9 | Oct 10, 2012, 02:14 AM EDT

Miss Piggy is 2016????? Hahahahahahahaha

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seanomelb | Sep 08, 2012, 02:28 AM EDT

Not able to defend your bias PaulPaulPaul

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paulpaulpaul | Sep 06, 2012, 09:15 PM EDT

My inital post concerned the lack of co-ordinated U.S Foreign policy, and I just now put on the television. John Kerry was at the DNC, making it known that Israel and U.S are at one. This, my freind, is far from the case, and Kerry, (while a lovely person),shares with all the other orators at the Democratic Convention, (also lovely people) a common trait. When in front of an open mike, they take the truth, and bend it like Beckham.

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seanomelb | Sep 06, 2012, 08:08 PM EDT

The Palestinians have not got enough arms to protect their homeland from a terrorist Israeli state that banished a quarter of a million Muslims from their homes. But that's okay with you hypocrites who judge people on their colour and their religion. Maybe you should visit a few Muslim countries and make an honest appraisal of the situation rather than listening to Fox and the Zionist lobby in the US.Paul I am only saddened by all repressive regimes including Israel. But you prefer to nitpick on which ethnic group are oppressed. Your statement is biased and hypocritical.

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snakehips | Sep 06, 2012, 12:46 PM EDT

Jeez Patrick, You have nothing to back this up. Your remarks are just some sort of devised voodoo that you have conjured up. I seriously doubt that either Bill or Hil have consulted you in this matter and I believe they never will. Only they have any insight into their political futures and you have no way of knowing what they are. You guys are the worst thing for politics in America

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hooligan6a | Sep 06, 2012, 08:24 AM EDT

seanomelb, If the muslims would lay down their arms today, there would be peace. If the Israelis would lay down their arms today, they would be slaughtered.

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paulpaulpaul | Sep 06, 2012, 06:32 AM EDT

seanomelb You brought Egypt into the conversation, but then you obviously knew exactly what I was referring to. 100,000 Christians have left Egypt in the past six months, and it`s not because Ryanair had a special deal for them. Your reference to Israel is saddening.

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esatdigiwank | Sep 06, 2012, 05:50 AM EDT

PHinsman: no such thing as a question of 'helping Iraq', sorry. Iraq, dismantled and destroyed so that the West can re-construct it, fabricate it into the new, neo-liberal cash-cow entity it wants it to be. pls read a little Naomi Klein..

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EphraimKibbey | Sep 06, 2012, 01:01 AM EDT

Sorry, lets try "site."

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EphraimKibbey | Sep 06, 2012, 12:59 AM EDT

@acmelvin - We Get It! You have money invested in this GOP propoganda piece and are afraid your investment is in real trouble so you are advertising the hack job every chance you get. I'm sorry for your inevitible financial loss, but I have no intention of spending my hard earned money to watch a full length Romney commercial. If I want to laugh at the Ryan/Romney lies, all I have to do is turn on my TV or read the rants of the Right Wing Nuts on this dsight. I have a cheaper suggestion for you: watch Bill Clinton's convention speech on YouTube and vote Democratic in November.

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EphraimKibbey | Sep 06, 2012, 12:42 AM EDT

I think you may have misjudged Bill. I just watch him deliver one of the BEST speechs of his life and that is saying alot. He not only did a better job of explaining what the GOP positions are than they did at their convention but did a masterful job of countering them with Obama's positions. Point after point, he connected Obama's positions with his successful positions from the ninties and the GOP positions with the failed Cheney/Bush years. If he was trying to sabotage Barack, he sure has a funny way doing it. If there are any folks out there who are still undecided or are leaning toward Ryan/Romney because they have been taken in by their lies, all they need do is watch Clinton's convention speech on YouTube to be convinced that it would be unpatriotic not to vote for Obama. Ryan and Romney, your pants are on fire and Bill just turned in the alarm!

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seanomelb | Sep 06, 2012, 12:04 AM EDT

The Muslim brotherhood has not introduced Sharia law or did it ever state that it would. As for treaties or is it one treaty with Israel. Why should Egypt honour a treaty with a terrorist state(Israel). Maybe arrogant was to harsh a word to use. It does not engage in the murder of Christian. Like the USA with it's extremist Christian groups ,Egypt has parallel Muslim groups as has Israel with Jewish extremist or India with their religious extremist. If you wish to deny democracy to others please come out and say so.

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irishpjk | Sep 05, 2012, 11:53 PM EDT

I disagree. An Obama loss will be a win for America and the world. My top five reasons for wanting him out are two sons and three grandsons. They will not be able to pay for all the government waste that will come from his feel good programs.

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paulpaulpaul | Sep 05, 2012, 09:50 PM EDT

seanomelb No problem with you terming me as arrogant. It`s just that I'm baffled as to why the U.S Administration has been so passive about the rise of a group that (a)advocates the implementation of sharia Law, (b) has shown a willingness to disregard various peace accords, and (c) engages in brutality and murder of Christians. I guess Clinton and co. would find it difficult to condemn these atrocities, having already bet the house on the Arab Spring.

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hollabackgurl | Sep 05, 2012, 06:32 PM EDT

If it's true that "there will be no tears shed in the Clinton household if Obama comes a cropper and fails to win re-election..." then I hope they never run as Democrats again.

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