MyDD :: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: "Obama would make a very good President."

[Retitled] Harold Ickes: "Obama would make a very good President."

by TomP, Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:46:00 PM EST

[A couple commenters suggested that I retitle this. They were right. There are two good stories here for unity]

I see a few diaries here and at Daily Kos decrying or applauding Hillary Clinton's campaign for "reserving its rights" on the Michigan decision. Some on either side think this means that Senator Clinton will fight for the four delegtes all the way to Denver.

There's a problem with that thinking. Reserving rights just does what it says. It prevents the waiver of any rights pending a decision on what to do. But there has been no decision to continue to fight the Michigan issue. It's possible, but in my view, unlikely that such a fight over 4 delegates will happen. In any event, that decision has not been made and may never be made.

Harold Ickes, a top adviser to Clinton, said on NBC's "Meet The Press" no decision had yet been made.

"I have not had a chance to talk with Senator Clinton at any length about it, and obviously this will be a big decision. But her rights are reserved," he said.

But one of her strongest supporters, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, sounded uninterested in a further challenge.

"I don't think we're going to fight this at the convention, because even were we to win it, unless it's going to change enough delegates for Senator Clinton to win the nomination, then it would be a fight that would have no purpose," Rendell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080601/ap_o n_el_pr/primary_rdp

More after the fold.

MR. RUSSERT: Does that mean you're going to take this fight to the convention?

MR. ICKES: Haven't decided yet, Tim. I have not had a chance to talk with Senator Clinton at any length about it, and obviously this will be a big decision. But her rights are reserved.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24916139/pag e/4/

And Ickes says Obama would make a good President.

MR. RUSSERT: Would Barack Obama make a good president?

MR. ICKES: I think he would make a, a very good president, yes.

MR. RUSSERT: Now, that's the spirit of unity. Harold Ickes, is that an endorsement?

MR. ICKES: Oh, he would, he would make, he would make a good president. And we're not saying he can't get elected. Our case is, Tim, as you know, that, as you look at the general election, it's not who's going to win California, Illinois, New York--although, you know, the--our opposition is not your standard issue Republican. He's going to upset some of our electoral map. The question is who can win the Floridas, the Ohios, the New Mexicos, the Nevadas, the West Virginias, the Tennessees, to bring in 270 electoral votes. John Kerry only won 258. He was 18 short.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24916139/pag e/6/

I have no doubt that the Democratic Party will be unified.

Also on Daily Kos, where the comments are quite different. :-)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/1/14482/12624/3/526797

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Harold Ickes, Democratic Party (all tags)

Permalink :: 40 Comments :: Post a Comment

Tips for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, (2.00 / 11)

and a unified and victorious Democratic Party.

by TomP on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:46:51 PM EST

And a tip for (2.00 / 6)

the Edwards' who showed tremendous class this season.

by Is This Snark on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:50:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: And a tip for (2.00 / 2)

I second that! Edwards left the race with dignity and honor.

by NCDemAmy on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:52:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tips for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, (2.00 / 1)

"I've been instructed to reserve her right to appeal..." was for public consumption. It has no parliamentary meaning - appearing before a credentials committee is not a right you reserve or waive. You just do it. And anyone with a single delegate can raise any motion they want.

So I'm not sure why he said it, except to play for the wingnuts hooting at him.

I have that readiness.

by Jess81 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:52:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tips for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, (2.00 / 1)

I believe it works like in a trial court where an attorney must reserve the right to an appeal, otherwise you lose it. It was more of a technical move than a threat -- even though I took it as a threat at the time. Reason returned this morning.

by gchaucer2 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:55:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tips for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, (none / 0)

That's exactly what it was: for the crowds and the cameras only. The chants of "Denver! Denver!" had already been done after the first Florida vote failed, so he knew what the crowd reaction was going to be. It didn't carry weight, but it did help present an embarrassing moment to a national television audience.

But you know what? Dirt off our shoulders. You an eye tee why.

by Jay R on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:00:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tips for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, (2.00 / 1)

Thank your for your rational approach.

by GreenHills on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:42:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

wow, an actual unity diary (2.00 / 3)

Thanks TomP.

People here don't know how close many of the staff on the two campaigns are.

by souvarine on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:50:47 PM EST

Re: wow, an actual unity diary (2.00 / 1)

Good point. A lot of folks on the Clinton campaign will be moving to the Obama campaign very soon.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:01:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 3)

It all comes down to how Clinton can exit on her terms without putting a bullet in the head of everyone else.

I've a feeling Ickes' show yesterday was just that, a show. The outcome that happened was not unexpected, it just wasn't what they really wanted, and really is she going to sink everything on 4 delegates?

by notedgeways on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:51:01 PM EST

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 2)

principle.

I know I have been on the losing end of arguments before at work, but I make my displeasure known and then I become a team player.

Drives my boss nutty, but he appreciates my, er, enthusiasm, as I often tell him that would he rather I just go thru the motions and do a half-assed job or have my voice heard and acknowledged, so that I can get on board 100%?

by colebiancardi on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:54:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 2)

She's cares too much about the issues she's championed to give them up by abandoning the party, no matter what some of her supporters think she should do.

She knows that an Obama White House means a rubber stamp for her policies (they are so so close, people). There will probably be some compromise on health insurance (as there would have to be with either of their plans to pass), but we're going to finally see what we democrats can do with the problems the republicans created. It won't be easy, but I think we have a multitude of courageous leaders who have a good shot at getting the job done.

Man I'm optimistic this morning! :)

John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country

by minnesotaryan on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:58:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 2)

No, she's too much of a democrat to do that. As much as some of her supporters on this site tend to freak out about these HUUUUGE differences between the two, Hillary wants Obama in the White House if he's the nominee. He'll sign whatever she gets the Senate to pass. The next 8 years are looking bright!

John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country

by minnesotaryan on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:55:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 1)

Thanks for this. May I suggest you change the title at some point to "Ickes: Obama would make a very good president." Moves us beyond yesterday's drama and delivers the important qualification you have discerned here regarding the process. If I was working for Obama, that's the quote I'd want emphasized in the media.

The future is unwritten

by Strummerson on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:57:32 PM EST

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 1)

I'd certainly second that, but it's a great diary regardless.

John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country

by minnesotaryan on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:00:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made on Fur (2.00 / 1)

Indeed. Important detail that's getting lost in the fuss.

The future is unwritten

by Strummerson on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:00:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Good idea. (none / 0)

I retitled it as you suggested both here and at Daily Kos.

by TomP on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:22:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Good idea. (2.00 / 1)

Glad you found it helpful and I'm sorry if it was a tad presumptuous. Thanks again.

The future is unwritten

by Strummerson on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:23:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you Tom (2.00 / 2)

As always -- rec'd before I read and am not sorry I did. Very good reasoning.

by gchaucer2 on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:59:14 PM EST

Re: Harold Ickes: No Decision Has Been Made (2.00 / 2)

The reason why no decision has been made comes at the end of the interview:

MR. RUSSERT: When, when will this be over?

MR. ICKES: It'll be over when one candidate secures the number for the nomination.

MR. RUSSERT: Could that happen Wednesday?

MR. ICKES: It could. Anything could happen.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24916139/pag e/5/

It's time to restore balance and fairness to our economy,... It's time to stop giving tax cuts to corporations that ship jobs overseas... - Barack Obama

by Lefty Coaster on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:03:30 PM EST

Clinton camp couldn't hold followers together (2.00 / 2)

In the end, the Clinton camp was undercut by its own supporters and by the state parties it purported to defend.

Michigan, which scheduled itself outside the party-designated window and has been scrambling for a way back in, running an election with Hillary Clinton's name on the ballot but not Barack Obama's -- refused to play Clinton's game. Instead, state party leaders came together at the last minute behind a compromise resolution that split the numerical difference between the Clinton and Obama campaigns' proposals on how to apportion the delegates. Rather than award Clinton 73 delegates and Obama 55, as the Clintonites proposed, or split the delegation down the middle, 64-46, as the Obamanians advocated, the party put forth a 69-59 division of delegates.

And the state's senior senator, Carl Levin, answered Ickes' argument by telling him, "You're calling for a fair representation of a flawed primary. You can't say that this kind of ballot [that is, with one major candidate on it but not the other] should be reflected literally in the delegate apportionment."

"We're trying to keep our party together," Levin concluded. "Don't disunite our party!"

In the end, Levin's argument even convinced one-third of the 12 committee members who backed Clinton: Four broke ranks with the campaign to back the Michigan apportionment.
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?arti cle=not_holding_her_own

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:25:57 PM EST

Thanks for posting this on both sites (2.00 / 1)

And I am going to rec and tip.
The tip is for your work at keeping both places calm.

Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!

by Student Guy on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:27:55 PM EST

Thanks Student Guy. (2.00 / 1)

Thank you also for what you do for unity.

by TomP on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 06:12:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

she keeps getting momentum. She won PR by huge. She is clearly the best to take on McCain. If barack came with a guaranteed win in November I would not be trying so hard for her candidacy. She can, he maybe can. I think he'd be an okay president, just not great like she would be.

Hillary - alternative energy

by anna shane on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:45:40 PM EST

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (2.00 / 2)

She's not a guaranteed win by any means. She's up in polls now because nobody's attacking her, at all. Think the Republicans aren't drooling to trot out every old Clinton scandal Obama's been too respectful to do? Think again. Get ready for Whitewater, Vernon Jordan, Lewinskygate, presidential Pardons, Marc Rich, Norman Hsu, all of that garbage.

Obama will be the nominee. Winning Puerto Rico doesn't change that. He'd be a fine president, and so would she, but alas this just isn't her year. But that's ok.

John McCain wants to stay in Iraq.

by ihaveseenenough on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 03:50:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

you're dreaming if you think she isn't attacked. The media is very insulting to her still, and Barack recently accused her of wanting him killed. I guess it depends on the definition of attack? what has been said to 'attack' Barack?

Hillary - alternative energy

by anna shane on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:08:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Idiot Liar (2.00 / 1)

Barack NEVER NEVER said this. He condemned those who did. it was Hillary supporters who came up with the lies stating he did.

Anyway, what kind of sick asshole thinks of assassination as a reason to stay in the race.

Additionally, she DID lie about the race going into June in 1992, it didn't. Bill Clinton claimed that it was over by April and it didn't even start until February. Go back and read his biography. These are his own words.

by monkeyga on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:20:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Idiot Liar (none / 0)

he assumed it, by calling her comment unfortunate and then accepting an apology she never gave. For him it was a given ,he started with that as a given. Ick. And many of his supporters right her made the the claim directly. That was the lowest point in his campaign.

Hillary - alternative energy

by anna shane on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:37:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

"The media is very insulting to her still, and Barack recently accused her of wanting him killed."

You never get tired of lying, do you? The bigger the lie the easier to spew for you, isn't it?

by Aris Katsaris on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:22:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

Poblano had a chart the other day showing the number of attacks per day on the different candidates. Clinton was attacked much, much less than either Obama or McCain.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:25:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama did nothing of the type (none / 0)

In fact, he shut down that thread rapidly, though invoking - four times - RFK being shot has been pretty universally condemned.

She "has not been fully vetted".

"If you think the GOP will not attack" her "in the fall, you have another think coming."

Just saying.

-chris

Motley Moose, Troll Free Blogging

by chrisblask on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:06:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

Anna:

It doesn't help anyone for you to voice wildly inflammatory, untrue statements, like your accusation that Obama said she wanted him killed. It's not true; everyone knows it's untrue.

As for her big win in Puerto Rico: It is a big win, and she deserves congratulations. I also happen to think that iconic poster of her is totally cool! But she won't net nearly enough pledged delegates to convince supers that they should go against that key metric.

Further, if Clinton agreed with you that she was gaining sufficient momentum, she surely would be campaigning nonstop the next two days in the final two states, instead of heading back to New York. She fought a great fight. I admire her fighting spirit. But she has lost.

by deminva on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:27:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

i wish you were kidding, but I fear you aren't. I'll vote for the nominee but not with blinders on.

Hillary - alternative energy

by anna shane on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:38:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: [Retitled] Harold Ickes: (none / 0)

Kidding? About what?

by deminva on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 06:00:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]