My Whatever World in Maine: The Presumptive Nominee?

Perhaps. The timber of this campaign has taken a decidedly different turn since Tuesday, as Sen. Clinton seems to be on more of a farewell tour than a campaign stop these days. I'm wondering what role she has left to play in the days leading up to June 3rd. Clearly, she will do what is expected of her when the time comes, which is to stand on stage with Barack Obama and endorse him as her party's nominee, at which point the disparate factions that have splintered off during this nominating process need to come together. I don't worry too much about losing the votes of people who don't like African-Americans, because most people who wouldn't vote for an African-American for president also wouldn't vote for a woman, so clearly John McCain has the bigot vote sewn up. Congratulations on that score, Sen. McCain. I do worry somewhat about the vote of the over-65 crowd (especially the white women) that so clearly preferred Hillary as their nominee, but still, in the end, I don't see them breaking in great numbers for McCain because they are also some of the most ardent critics of perpetuating the illegal war, which is practically McCain's whole platform. Well, that and courting gay-baiting racists, of course-which is a big plus with looney, pseudo-Christian, gay-phobic Republican voters (most of the GOP base) but may not go over so big with Hillary's natural constituency.

(Just a reminder here of who John McCain really is and what he supports, or at least what he will swallow in order to get votes. I'd like to know why this hasn't been played on CNN 24/7. Maybe because a grandfatherly white "preacher" is less threatening to white Americans than a fiery black one, no matter how vicious and ugly the message? Hmmmm? Although I think that was pretty much confirmed by the ascent of Falwell and Dobson-merely far right political front men masquerading as men of the cloth-a long time ago. Unfortunately, I think the reason it hasn't gotten the play of Rev. Wright is that it really isn't news-this is simply what the news media and the American public have come to expect from the so-called evangelical Christian clergy and their devoted, braindead followers. Hate mongers? Check. Gay bashers? Check. Racists, war hawks, and hypocrites? Check, check, and check. So what's to report?)

The other thing I'm wondering is...what about Bill? Did he irreparably burn bridges with some of his most ardent supporters, or can he turn himself back into an asset in this campaign? My guess is that most of the country long ago forgave him his many faults, and they will forgive him this as well-we are, at heart, a Bill-loving nation and wish to remain so. It will be very nice, though, to hear him turn it back on the Republicans instead of the guy who has long been unofficially acknowledged as his party's nominee. And you know he will.

Finally, some advice to Barack Obama: please, please, please don't go the way of Al Gore in this campaign. Don't allow "consultants" to turn you into something you aren't. Please be yourself and tell your story and show us the FDR side of you that garnered you this nomination in the first place. At the same time, you have to learn that these people whom you are up against are ugly and hateful and prey on division, and are in unabated collective orgasm over the prospect of an African-American opponent. (the only thing that would make them more joyous is if we'd nominated Barney Frank.) Become intimately acquainted with the vicious, racist campaign run against Harold Ford (a Blue Dog Democrat) in Tennessee. You will need to go at them with both barrels if you are going to win this fight, or at least find yourself people who will. Take a hard lesson from Bob Kraft and Spygate, and from Sen. Kerry-the more you try to ignore and "not justify" the ugliest allegations, the worse it gets for you. Sen. McCain-no stranger to the smear campaign himself-learned that the hard way a long time ago. Now you need to understand it, too.