If it bleeds for a week and doesn't die...

Kill: Yeah, I know Chris killed her off last post. I don't care. The chalk has not been drawn yet. As my man Barack knows, Hillary's one chick that's hard to bump off (Hezbollah-style fist jab, dawg!) Seriously, Hils, the country's had its fun with you, but it's just not that into you. She's like a cross between Jason and the Glenn Close character from Fatal Attraction. To paraphrase the Governor of California in True Lies "female presidential candidates: can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em". How can anyone expect to be elected president if they make Tucker Carlson "involuntarily" cross his legs when he hears her speak? If she reminds Mike Barnicle of "everyone's first wife standing outside a probate court," how can she win? Amirite? Fellas?

I think one lesson we can draw from this Bataan Death March of a primary campaign is that while both racism and sexism are still forces in American politics, pundits and pols can make truly repellent sexist comments and continue to have successful careers. (Another is that we need a better media, but that's not happening anytime soon). The same, as George "macaca" Allen, Don "nappy-headed hos" Imus, and Trent "Strom Thurmond forever!" Lott can attest to, is just not true for racist comments. Don't believe me? Here's 62 examples. Particularly galling were the howls of skepticism after she allowed her eyes to become teary in New Hampshire, as if Bill Clinton, John Edwards, or Bush pere and fils would never speak with a catch in their voice or with sad empathetic eyes (in Bush Sr.'s defense, I'd be crying if those were my kids too). The commentariat's remarks about Hillary being like "everyone's" (lovely demonstration of male privilege there) first wife say more about their own twisted biases and sexual histories than about Hillary Clinton's fitness for the job of President. It's not just male pundits, either - there's a special ring of hell reserved for Maureen Dowd's coverage of this campaign. As for Tucker, I really wish he took Jon Stewart's advice and Stopped Hurting America. Like every other person who has sought out higher office, she's an extremely ambitious and competitive person. That doesn't exactly make her a stalker.

All that said, I would not be happy if she was Obama's VP pick. As Chris points out, speculating on assassinations is an immediate disqualifier, no matter what the context was. And I don't look forward to hearing Bill explain exactly why he pardoned each and every crooked financier who fundraised for him on his way out the door. But most of all, I just don't think she'd be a great president, mostly based on the way she's ran her campaign. She'd be miles better than Mccain, Ralph Nader, or any other Republican, and I think she's just as electable as Obama, but I still don't want her a bullet away from the presidency. This campaign was her biggest project since the 1994 Healthcare proposal, which wasn't exactly a triumph of executive leadership either. She's refused to admit voting for the war was a mistake, which would have robbed Obama's candidacy of its rationale from the get-go.
She gave millions of dollars to this guy (Mark Penn, left) who reportedly did not understand the basic rules of the primary.

Her campaign was leaky, fractious, and unfocused. As a candidate, she's been inflexible, gaffe - prone, and unconvincing. Seriously, Barack, you don't want to go there. You're better than that.