An Obama loss would be a win for the Clintons -- Would make a 2016 run for Hillary much more likely, say insiders
By: Patrick Roberts | Published Thursday, September 6, 2012, 12:32 PM | Updated Thursday, September 6, 2012, 12:32 PM
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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.
36 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Springfield9 | Oct 10, 2012, 02:14 AM EDT
Miss Piggy is 2016????? Hahahahahahahaha
seanomelb | Sep 08, 2012, 02:28 AM EDT
Not able to defend your bias PaulPaulPaul
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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..
EphraimKibbey | Sep 06, 2012, 01:01 AM EDT
Sorry, lets try "site."
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
paulpaulpaul | Sep 05, 2012, 06:06 PM EDT
If Chuck Norris wants Clinton to run, she won't be able to say no.
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
pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 03:02 PM EDT
roryobrien, wise man.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
CitizenWhy | Sep 05, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT
The Clintons are genuinely scared at the prospect of a Romney-Ryan victory.
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.
pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
Patrick Roberts and Cathy Hayes, the resident Republicans at Irish Central, can't seem to get it right. The President is going to be re-elected with the great assistance of Bill Clinton. His re-election will also be a tribute to the work done by Secretary Hillary Clinton.
Springfield9 | Sep 05, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
Is that a joke? Bill Clinton is a nice guy. A little to randy for me but nice nevertheless. That lard a$$ed witch he married is good FOR NOTHING. Now his daughter (Chauncey, or whatever) is getting ideas. She knows absolutely nothing and proudly married into a Felon's family. GIVE ME A BREAK!
Prevailer | Sep 05, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
How long does it take to get this out in public before Obama gets screwed? I feel it has a chance to happen in this political climate. Maybe the Supreme Court will make it happen?
Prevailer | Sep 05, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
Is that really an observant revelation or just plain old partisan agression to fan the fire for your political ethos?
TisEyerish | Sep 05, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT
I cannot imagine anything much worse than the Clintons back in the White House. Don't count Obama out. I believe he is the lesser of two evils and so do millions of others.
judiron | Sep 05, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT
Don't forget if we get rid of Obama this election he'll immediately leave the White House and start running for president in 2016. Amen