At some point in Summer 2007, I was sitting in traffic in Dickson City, PA, listening to Hillary Clinton being interviewed (I think on NPR). She stated bluntly that she would be the Democratic nominee for president. The interviewer informed her that this wasn't certain, but Clinton insisted it was, repeating herself a few times for emphasis. I was taken aback by her arrogance (not the first time) but as the next few weeks unfolded, something changed. We now all know, that something was Barrack Obama.
Clinton hung in there until the smothering inevitability of Obama becoming the nominee was certain. So surely, the party that had raised the Clintons to American royalty, and closed ranks to protect them from the slings and arrows of scandal, surely they would bestow upon her the mantle of Vice President nominee? Nope. That honor went to a man famous for sticking his foot in his mouth on an almost daily basis, Joe Biden.
So as the orgasm of hope that was the election and inauguration of Barack Obama whipped the nation into a frenzy, Hillary, for all her years of service to the Democrats, was out in the cold. Now I don't know, or particularly like the woman. But, I think anyone who has ever had ambitions crushed by forces beyond their control, could feel more than a bit sorry for the almost violent trip to the back of the bus that the Dems served Mrs. Clinton. And then, after being appointed Secretary Of State, the president seemed to take even fairly minor diplomatic roles from her, executing them himself. Some might suggest he should have been at home, minding the shop, but there you go.
And Clinton has been moderatley busy, but imagine the dichotomy; you go from being the first lady of the nation, to being your party's front running candidate, and having huge amounts of media attention, to barely being a player at all. Well, if I was her, I would be just a little bitter.
So, we fast forward to the middle of 2012 for a little political prognostication on my part. The GOP is edging out the Obama campaign by a couple points, because Suzy Family Values Johnson of the Tea Party has rocketed to prominence to become the Republican nominee for president. It's looking bad for the Dems, Obama's first term has been shaky at best, a failure at worst. Who can save the Democrats from this bewildering loss? (For maximum effect, hum the Superman theme to yourself here. Or Mighty Mouse, whatever blows your skirt up)
Yes, it's Super Hillary, sticking it to the Dems by pulling their fat out of the fire, and in a cosmically huge karma smackdown, effectively rescuing them from the man they shunted her aside to embrace. Maybe it'll happen that way, maybe I'm way off base. But bitterness is something that can eat away at a person, and if anyone has a right to be bitter, it's Hillary Clinton.
Mike Grefski
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