Hillary Clinton didn’t get the VP slot. And she is not getting health care stewardship– at least not in the Senate. Politics is tough stuff. And if you lose, the winners generally ignore or spurn you, unless you have something to offer them or pose some danger to them. It might be wise for the new President to give Hillary, and Bill too, something to do. There will be rockier times ahead and it pays to keep your rivals close. Still, it is not likely she will pose much of a danger to his success. Her bargaining power is gone.

As for John McCain, the debate is on as to whether he is going to be a major leader in his party or play for the history books, returning to his previous role as “maverick” (i.e., an irritant to his party). My money is on the latter.

McCain was clearly wounded by the bad rap he got in the media and among his establishment friends.What better way to “restore his image” (as the MSM will undoubtedly characterize it) than to break filibusters, cut deals, and generally do whatever he can to remind us what a “bipartisan deal-maker” he his. Conservatives are already banging their heads on the wall, anticipating they will once again see the John McCain who took the most delight in thwarting his own party rather than attacking liberals.

Clinton and McCain must share a bond. They were both aced by a younger, more charismatic, less experienced man, one who escaped the harsh media scrutiny they both received. Now both are in the same boat. In another four years, I suspect Clinton will be much revered in her own party and McCain rather reviled in his own.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, November 9th, 2008 at 8:59 AM and is filed under Contentions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.