March 5 2008

Years ago, I was discussing the movie Braveheart with my friend Bill who is a Scot.  We were talking about how the film depicted key events in the centuries of struggle by the Scots to throw out the English invaders and regain their independence.  Bill told me, "The Scots were never beaten. They managed to defeat themselves."

Based on my very limited knowledge of Scottish history, I believe that Bill was right.  On those occasions when the clans united, they trounced the English forces handily. Unfortunately, the Scottish chiefs were more often fighting each other over old grudges and the English were also very adept at bribing one clan to turn on another.  Divide and conquer was a tactic that worked brilliantly.  I see something like this happening to the Democratic Party in the United States.

Hillary Clinton has managed to win three key states against Barack Obama, though he is still well in the lead.  She accomplished her wins partly by hard campaigning for which she deserves credit.  She also did it by launching attacks against Obama that looked as though they had been crafted by the Republicans.

Now that John McCain has won the nomination for the Republican Party, he can begin getting his ducks in a row for the November election.  If the Democratic race goes all the way to the Convention during August, the American public will see six more months of Clinton and Obama napalming each other's bunkers. After months of Clinton demonizing Obama and vice versa, American voters may say, "A pox on both their houses" and go for McCain.

Eight years of the Bush Administration have brought America to the brink of ruin.  Four more years of the same under John McCain will finish the job.  In the interests of her party and of her country, Hillary Clinton should concede now.  In return, Obama should offer her the Vice Presidency or at least a very senior post in his administration.  I know that doing this will be heartbreaking for Clinton, but she needs to think of her country.

Before anyone accuses me of suggesting this because Clinton is a woman, let me say that I would offer the same advice to Obama if he were the candidate who was trailing.

What do you think?  Should Clinton and Obama fight it out to the bitter end or is it time for a deal to unite the Democratic Party?  I'd like to know your opinion.

George

P.S. Visit my website at www.checkmatefiction.com for some free short fiction.