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If Hillary becomes the Democratic candidate, let us all pray for deliverance by Mike Bloomberg. Without him, a Hillary nomination could mean near-certain victory for McCain. She remains far too polarizing a figure to guarantee a Democratic win. She's also, let's face it, largely a blank screen onto which various factions' fetishes and fantasies are being projected, from those championing the mere principle of a woman president to those yearning for the good old days of Bill Clinton.
Her old-school maneuvering and bare-faced, craven sense of entitlement (not to mention the shameless Dixiecrat mudslinging to which her husband has stooped) make Hillary so unlikable that there are too many Dems who, like me, would have to hold their noses and vote for her. Meanwhile, on the other side, there are far too many conservatives who absolutely loathe her for reasons they no longer bother to recall. Just like with Kerry back in '04, the electorate wouldn't be voting FOR her, we'd either be voting AGAINST the prospect of another Republican administration or AGAINST her.
Obama represents the only viable, positive choice - his groundswell of support is unquestionably FOR him rather than against someone else. If we make the mistake of passing on him and the rare opportunity his candidacy represents, the only alternative on the horizon will be Mike Bloomberg.
As his tenure as NYC mayor attests, Bloomberg appeals to all races, classes, genders and political persuasions. He's a strong coalition-builder who would lap up independents, moderates of all stripes, those whose primary concern is the economy or the environment, those seeking temperance in foreign policy and perspicacity in domestic affairs.
We cannot afford business as usual with another Republican White House, let alone one run by a bloodthirsty isolationist maverick like Coo-Coo McCain. If we're short-sighted enough to put up Hillary over Obama, let us beg, bully or if need be blow Bloomberg to enter the race. It'll be our only hope.
