Clinton: The Audacity of hopelessness

Ouch. Well, one could have expected it to be coming from one corner or another. This time from conservative-ish New York Times commentator David Brooks who estimates that Hillary's chances of winning have dropped to 5%.

For the sake of that 5 percent, this will be the sourest spring. About a fifth of Clinton and Obama supporters now say they wouldn’t vote for the other candidate in the general election. Meanwhile, on the other side, voters get an unobstructed view of the Republican nominee. John McCain’s approval ratings have soared 11 points. He is now viewed positively by 67 percent of Americans. A month ago, McCain was losing to Obama among independents by double digits in a general election matchup. Now McCain has a lead among this group.

For three more months, Clinton is likely to hurt Obama even more against McCain, without hurting him against herself. And all this is happening so she can preserve that 5 percent chance.

When you step back and think about it, she is amazing. She possesses the audacity of hopelessness.

Our party is being torn apart, rendered asunder form within. Someone asked me last night if a long primary wasn't good for the Democrats, and I said "Yes, up to a point is drags out and brings to light things. But it's gone beyond the pale. Calling someone a Judas?!? Saying that the Republican candidate would be better as president than your fellow Democrat?!?"

In other news, I think the wall against Clinton is rising as more party leaders cement their opposition to Clinton's strategy of "well, if I can't have it, I'll break it." Harry Reid, who is as much of a fixer as anyone in DC, who knows how to play the game, hints at a deal in progress.

From the review-Journal:

Asked about it last week, Reid said he remains convinced the nominee will be decided well before the August national convention. He wore a serene and mysterious smile.

But Reid isn't one for lengthy explanations. The conversation went like this:

Question: Do you still think the Democratic race can be resolved before the convention?

Reid: Easy.

Q: How is that?

Reid: It will be done.

Q: It just will?

Reid: Yep.

Q: Magically?

Reid: No, it will be done. I had a conversation with Governor Dean (Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean) today. Things are being done.

That's all the Nevada Democrat would say about it.

So it also looks like he thinks that Michigan and Florida delegates will be able to be seated but not get to vote. I am not sure that this is any better of a solution than not letting them come, since it is eerily reminiscent of 2/5th of a vote (and I'm one of the main people who thinks that they broke the rules, the Clinton camp broke the rules and they can't keep changing the rules.)

But more importantly, it sounds like Clinton's rampage is coming to an end.

And thank god, because some of her lead advisors like James Carville are unapologetically craaaaaaazy, that's for sure. He refuses to resign or in any way apologize for calling Richardson a Judas: "I was quoted accurately and in context, and I was glad to give the quote and I was glad I gave it. I'm not apologizing, I'm not resigning, I'm not doing anything."