Spanky's Place

The primary race is, I'm also predicting, going to be very ugly. My personal political beliefs aside, the simple fact is that the current administration is taking a heck of a beating in the press right now; and this is just going to get worse. (Before you start writing responses telling me that I'm less than patriotic for not supporting the current administration in a time of war; -shut the hell up. Before you start writing responses telling me that George Bush is the Antichrist, shut the hell up. This isn't about my personal political beliefs, this isn't about President Bush, this is about my prediction for the 2008 presidential election. And the fact is, whether you support the current administration or not, whether you believe he is a saint or demon, whether the press is telling lies or preaching truth; support for and confidence in the current administration is faltering in a big way.

That being said, the Democrats and the Republicans will leave one another alone during the primary race. The Democrats will tear each other apart for being too extreme one way or another; and the mudslinging will be relentless. Except for Hillary. She, I predict, will not follow the tactics her husband is known for (at least publicly). She will run a "clean" race; and no Democrat will say or do anything that could be construed as any type of attack upon her in any way.

"Why?" you ask. That's a good question. And the answers, while many, can be boiled down to two simple points:

Remember, people who oppose/expose Hillary Clinton tend to regret it. Sometimes they apologize, sometimes they loose their jobs/reputations, sometimes they just go for a walk in the park. Regardless of the reasons, Hillary will do very well in the primaries.

The Republicans, on the other hand, will similarly tear one another apart. There will be no "niceties" extended either to or from John McCain. (Note: I honestly respect John McCain quite a bit -devin) The candidates will do their best to sully one another's reputations, all except for Condoleezza Rice. Oh yes, she will run, and she will do very well. The other Republican candidates will go out of their way to be courteous to her (at least publicly -what goes on behind closed doors is another matter). They will treat her respectfully, and will not, as the Democrats with Hillary Clinton, do anything to besmirch her or her reputation.

Their reasons for this will also be many and, like those for Hillary Clinton, can also be boiled down to two simple points. These points are:

Regarding the first point, the Republican candidates, for all their attacks on one another, desperately need to appear to be gentlemen. What they personally feel about Condoleezza Rice is immaterial. What kind of secret attacks and power plays they work in the background doesn't matter either. On this point, appearance is all that matters. As for the second point, every one of these candidates knows that they will eventually have to face Hillary Clinton in the general election; and they know without a woman on their ticket they will loose. Call it sexist if you feel the need (it is); but it is also the truth. The Republicans can't beat Hillary without a woman.

The Republican primaries will be vicious and ugly, and every single candidate (except Dr. Rice) will do all they can to distance themselves from the current administration. John McCain will do fairly well (he will even be in the lead at points); but will eventually begin to loose ground. When this eventually happens, the other candidates will jump at him like rabid wolves. They will join together and shred every ounce of dignity from him in a series of attack ads, timed press releases, news-bytes, and speeches. They will compare him to everyone from Benito Mussolini to Ted Bundy.

At some point, John McCain will loose his temper. He will, in a fit of anger, quit the race. And this is where things will get really interesting.

The Republicans will choose a Rudy Giuliani/Condoleezza Rice ticket; and it will be an "unbeatable" combination. The Democrats will realize that there is no way they can beat such a ticket, even with Hillary, as there is no Democrat that can "beat" Giuliani. They will heave a private, though collective sigh of despair, and begin plans for 2012.

Remember where I said things would get interesting? Well, here it comes. McCain and Clinton will contact one another, and will, on the eve of the Democrat National Convention, announce that they plan to seek the party nomination together. It will be a John McCain/Hillary Clinton candidacy. McCain will (either secretly or publicly -it doesn't really matter) agree to serve a single term. He will recognize that this is the only way he will ever be President. Hillary Clinton, whether I support her or not, is an extremely smart woman. She will know that the country, while ready for a female vice-president, will not yet vote for a female president. (Again, I know this is sexist; but it is nevertheless true). She and McCain will partner up in this way, and they will be unstoppable.

The Republicans will have alienated most of their voter base during the primaries. The American people will, by then, be ready to bring the Democrats back into power. They will have a candidate who has been for years called a RINO by the hard-core right wing contingent of the Republican party; a candidate who just so happens to be a respected leader, decorated veteran, a (unlike many other Democrat candidates) genuine war hero, and a HAWK. McCain's reputation for not being afraid of anything, yet at the same time not being perceived as a bully; combined with Clinton's reputation for brilliance, leadership, and caring about social issues will throw them into the forefront of the race. The press will fawn over them, and the Republicans will scream "liberal bias" at the top of their lungs. Their cries will fall on deaf ears however, and the American people will vote in John McCain/Hillary Clinton in the biggest landslide victory in U.S. history.